Agreements relating to motor carrier liability

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, a party shipping goods with a motor carrier and the motor carrier are generally free to agree to the terms under which the motor carrier will transport the goods and provide related shipping services. Where certain shipping documents are used, the law includes certain presumptions but these presumptions may generally be varied by agreement.

This bill prohibits, and renders void and unenforceable, any provision of a motor carrier transportation contract, or covenant or agreement collateral to or affecting a motor carrier transportation contract, from indemnifying, holding harmless, or requiring the motor carrier to provide a defense to the "promisee" or its employees or affiliates from or against any liability for loss or damage resulting from the negligence or intentional acts or omissions of the promisee or its employees or affiliates. A "promisee" is a person, including an individual or a business entity, that enters into a motor carrier transportation contract with a motor carrier (typically the shipper of goods). An "affiliate" of the promisee includes agents of the promisee and independent contractors directly responsible to the promisee. A "motor carrier transportation contract" means any agreement, regardless of whether it is written, oral, express, or implied, between a motor carrier and a promisee covering the transportation of property for hire by the motor carrier; the motor carrier's entrance on property for the purpose of loading, unloading, or transporting property for hire;

Who's behind it

7 representatives are its authors⁠. All 7 are Republicans.

2 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.