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SB 203

City of Wilmington/Property Conveyances.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Michael Lee and 1 co-sponsor

Allows interstate use of exceptional hauling permits for farm products, including fluid milk, with new axle and weight limits, updated documentation, and stronger enforcement.

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Bill Summary · SB 203

SB 203 — Vehicle Laws: Exceptional Hauling Permits for Farm Products (Chapter 52, 2025)

Status: Approved by the Governor — Chapter 52 (enacted 2025)

Main purpose

SB 203 revises Maryland’s rules for exceptional hauling permits that allow certain combinations of farm‑product trucks to operate at higher weights than normally permitted. Key goals are to (1) allow specially configured vehicles carrying fluid milk to use the interstate, (2) simplify eligibility and axle/weight standards for permit holders, and (3) modernize inspection, documentation, and enforcement procedures.

Key provisions and changes

  • Interstate access for milk haulers: Vehicles carrying fluid milk products are expressly exempted from the longstanding prohibition on operating under an exceptional hauling permit on the interstate highway system (unless federal law provides otherwise).
  • Permit eligibility and axle spacing:
    • Permits may be issued for combinations that carry only farm products (including loads loaded in fields or from bulk liquid milk storage tanks).
    • Eligible combinations may have five or six axles (or more) with a required minimum horizontal spacing of 36 feet between two consecutive sets of tandem axles (measured between centerlines of the extreme axles of the tandems).
  • Weight limits (under an exceptional hauling permit):
    • Single axle: maximum 20,000 pounds gross weight.
    • Tandem axle: maximum 40,000 pounds gross weight.
    • Gross combination weight: 88,000 pounds for five‑axle combinations; 95,000 pounds for combinations with six or more axles.
  • Documentation and inspections:
    • Drivers may carry an electronic copy of the exceptional hauling permit.
    • Required preventive‑maintenance proof:
    • MD‑registered vehicles: proof of the periodic inspection required by state law (Title 23, Subtitle 3).
    • Out‑of‑state vehicles engaged in interstate transport: proof of inspection per 49 C.F.R. § 396.17.
    • Vehicles exempt from those periodic inspection regimes: a valid North American Standard Driver/Vehicle Level 1 or Level 5 inspection report dated within the preceding 364 days showing no out‑of‑service defects/critical items.
  • Enforcement and penalties:
    • Violations void permit authority and subject the vehicle to regular weight laws.
    • If a weight restriction is exceeded by more than 5,000 pounds, the permit may be immediately confiscated by State Police, Maryland Transportation Authority Police, or other police officers.
    • The State Highway Administration (SHA) will review confiscations, verify violations, and may revoke permits; permit holders may appeal to the State Highway Administrator or designee.
  • Recordkeeping and compliance:
    • On request, weight and delivery records must be provided by either the permit holder or any motor carrier transporting farm products under the permit.
    • Failure to comply with record requests can subject the permit holder or motor carrier to suspension of permit eligibility.

Who is affected

  • Dairy farmers, agricultural shippers, and processors (especially those hauling bulk/field‑loaded farm products and fluid milk).
  • Motor carriers and permit holders that transport farm products under exceptional permits.
  • State Highway Administration and law enforcement agencies responsible for permitting and enforcement.
  • Potentially local jurisdictions and highway maintenance budgets (see fiscal impact).

Fiscal and administrative impact

  • Maryland Department of Transportation / SHA: can implement using existing budgeted resources; policy changes are expected to be administratively manageable.
  • Transportation Trust Fund: permit fee revenues could increase if the change triggers more permit applications, but DLS expects any revenue and maintenance cost impacts to be minimal.
  • Small business: MDOT has indicated the bill has a meaningful impact on small businesses (likely net positive for small agricultural haulers).

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Enacted as Chapter 52, 2025; effective as provided in the Act (now law).
  • SHA retains enforcement discretion (may revoke permits after review) and must handle confiscation/revocation appeals administratively.

If you want, I can prepare a side‑by‑side showing the statute before vs. after SB 203 or a short checklist for permit applicants describing new documentation and weight/axle criteria.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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