Brief Description: Modifying provisions for the transport of farm implements transporting dairy nutrients.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Ericksen, Linville, Newhouse, Buri, Strow and B. Sullivan).

House Committee on Transportation
Senate Committee on Transportation

Background:

State law establishes weight and size limits for vehicles traveling on state highways.

Washington passed the Dairy Nutrient Management Act in 1988, which requires farmers to have plans to remove dairy nutrients during certain times of the year and to dispose of the nutrients by spreading over a field or other methods.

Many of the trucks used to remove and transport dairy nutrients to comply with the Dairy Nutrient Management Act exceed the state highway weight limits. The only weight limit exemption for farming vehicles is for vehicles that weigh less than 45,000 pounds, are 70 feet long or less, and 14 feet wide or less.

Summary:

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is directed to work with the federal government, local transportation authorities, transportation agencies in other states, and legislative members and/or staff to conduct a study regarding overweight farming vehicles.

Until such a study and any subsequent law or rule changes are enacted:

• Certain farm implements that weigh up to 105,500 pounds, and used to transport dairy nutrients in order to comply with the Dairy Nutrient Management Act, may travel on city or county roads under certain conditions. A city or county road authority may restrict the movement of such vehicles.
• The Legislature requests that the U.S. Department of Transportation allow certain farm implements to travel on Washington highways under rules or policies established by the WSDOT.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   95   0
Senate   47   0

Effective: July 24, 2005

Partial Veto Summary: The Governor vetoed Section 2 of the act, the emergency clause. The act will take effect July 24, 2005.