Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
1 State of Arkansas
2 93rd General Assembly A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2021 HOUSE BILL 1495
4
5 By: Representatives Wardlaw, Womack, F. Allen, Barker, Beaty Jr., Beck, Bentley, M. Berry, S. Berry,
6 Boyd, Bragg, Breaux, Brooks, Brown, Carr, Cavenaugh, Cloud, Clowney, Coleman, A. Collins, C.
7 Cooper, Cozart, Crawford, Dalby, M. Davis, Deffenbaugh, Dotson, Eaves, Eubanks, Evans, D. Ferguson,
8 K. Ferguson, Fielding, C. Fite, L. Fite, V. Flowers, Fortner, Furman, D. Garner, Gazaway, Godfrey,
9 Gonzales, M. Gray, Haak, Hawks, Hillman, M. Hodges, Holcomb, Hollowell, Hudson, Jean, Jett, L.
10 Johnson, Ladyman, Love, Lowery, Lundstrum, Lynch, Maddox, McClure, McCollum, McCullough, M.
11 McElroy, McGrew, McKenzie, McNair, S. Meeks, Miller, Milligan, Murdock, Nicks, Payton, Perry,
12 Pilkington, Ray, Richardson, Richmond, Rye, Scott, Slape, B. Smith, S. Smith, Speaks, Springer, Tollett,
13 Underwood, Vaught, Warren, Watson, D. Whitaker, Wing, Wooten
14 By: Senators Gilmore, B. Ballinger, Caldwell, A. Clark, B. Davis, L. Eads, Flippo, T. Garner, K.
15 Hammer, Hester, Hill, Irvin, B. Johnson, M. Johnson, G. Leding, Rapert, Rice, G. Stubblefield, D.
16 Sullivan, C. Tucker, D. Wallace
17
18 For An Act To Be Entitled
19 AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LOAD LIMITS FOR A
20 VEHICLE TRANSPORTING CERTAIN RAW MATERIALS AND LOGS;
21 TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
22
23
24 Subtitle
25 TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LOAD LIMITS
26 FOR A VEHICLE TRANSPORTING CERTAIN RAW
27 MATERIALS AND LOGS; AND TO DECLARE AN
28 EMERGENCY.
29
30
31 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
32
33 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code 27-35-203(d)(1), concerning load limits, is
34 amended to read as follows:
35 (d)(1) Except as provided in subsection (j) of this section, Subject
36 subject to the limit upon the weight imposed upon the highway through any one
*DTP112* 02/10/2021 2:48:37 PM DTP112
 HB1495
1 (1) axle as set forth in subsections (a)-(c) of this section, no vehicle, or
2 combination of vehicles, shall be operated upon the highways of this state
3 when the gross weight is in excess of eighty thousand pounds (80,000 lbs.).
4
5 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code 27-35-203, concerning load limits, is
6 amended to add an additional subsection to read as follows:
7 (j)(1) A maximum gross weight of ninety thousand pounds (90,000 lbs)
8 is permitted for a five-axle vehicle with:
9 (A) A minimum fifty-one-foot outer bridge measurement;
10 (B) Has a maximum tandem limit of forty thousand pounds
11 (40,000 lbs.); and
12 (C) Is transporting precursor raw materials for paper
13 products, unfinished and unprocessed forest products, or logs.
14 (2) However, a five-axle vehicle under subdivision (j)(1) of
15 this section shall not:
16 (A) Travel on any weight-restricted highway; or
17 (B) Cross any bridge with a posted weight limit below the
18 gross weight of the vehicle.
19
20 SECTION 3. DO NOT CODIFY. Retroactivity.
21 This act applies retroactively to January 1, 2021.
22
23 SECTION 4. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the
24 General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
25 continues to spread within the State of Arkansas and adjoining states,
26 threatening the public safety of the citizens of Arkansas, and it is expected
27 that the spread will continue; that Executive Order 20-37 was in effect until
28 December 31, 2020, exempting commercial motor vehicles transporting precursor
29 raw materials for paper products, unfinished and unprocessed forest products,
30 or logs; that there continues to be a shortage of paper products in the
31 state; and that this act is immediately necessary because it is essential to
32 supply grocery stores, homes, and restaurants with these commodities.
33 Therefore, an emergency is declared to exist, and this act being immediately
34 necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, and safety shall
35 become effective on:
36 (1) The date of its approval by the Governor;
2 02/10/2021 2:48:37 PM DTP112
 HB1495
1 (2) If the bill is neither approved nor vetoed by the Governor,
2 the expiration of the period of time during which the Governor may veto the
3 bill; or
4 (3) If the bill is vetoed by the Governor and the veto is
5 overridden, the date the last house overrides the veto.
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
3 02/10/2021 2:48:37 PM DTP112