SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 2651
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Transportation, February 25, 2016
Title: An act relating to vehicle maximum gross weight values.
Brief Description: Concerning vehicle maximum gross weight values.
Sponsors: Representatives Rossetti and Orcutt; by request of Department of Transportation.
Brief History: Passed House: 2/16/16, 98-0.
Committee Activity: Transportation: 2/22/16, 2/25/16 [DP].
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION |
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators King, Chair; Fain, Vice Chair, Budget; Hobbs, Ranking Minority Member; Liias, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Carlyle, Cleveland, Jayapal, Litzow, Miloscia, Rivers, Sheldon and Takko.
Staff: Brian Connell (786-7346)
Background: Current state law sets forth the maximum gross load that any vehicle or combination of vehicles may carry on a single axle, two consecutive sets of tandem axles, or any group of two or more axles when operating on state public highways. Some exceptions are provided in statute.
The maximum gross load that any group of two or more axles may carry is set forth in a weight chart in statute. The weight chart is based on federal code weight limits calculated using the Bridge Gross Weight Formula. The formula is not currently mentioned in the State of Washington statutes, and some of the fields for existing vehicle configurations are blank in the weight chart.
States are required to comply with federal weight limits to preserve the Interstate Highway System.
Summary of Bill: Places the formula for calculating maximum gross vehicle weight limits in statute.
Updates the maximum gross vehicle weight chart in statute for vehicle configurations which are currently not listed.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Updating statute with the bridge gross weight formula and filling in the weight chart will help ensure state law is aligned with federal code.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Rossetti, Prime Sponsor; Travis Snell, WSDOT/Intergovernmental & Tribal Relations Office.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.