The maximum width of, and projecting loads on, vehicles carrying poles, pipe, girders, and similar materials

What it does

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

Under current law, no person may operate on a highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles that exceeds certain statutory limits on size, weight, or load unless an exception applies or the person possesses a permit issued by the Department of Transportation or local highway authorities. Current law generally prohibits a person from operating on a highway, without a permit, any vehicle having a total outside width in excess of eight feet six inches. Current law also generally prohibits a person from operating on a highway any single vehicle with an overall length in excess of 45 feet or any combination of two vehicles with an overall length in excess of 70 feet. Under one exception, a person may operate, without a permit, a single vehicle with an overall length not exceeding 60 feet, and a two-vehicle combination with an overall length not exceeding 120 feet, if the vehicle or vehicle combination is used by a pipeline company or operator, public service corporation, municipal utility, or cooperative association (collectively a "utility"), or by a motor carrier operating under contract with a utility, for transportation of poles, pipe, girders, and similar materials.

Also under current law, with limited exceptions, no person may operate on a highway, without a permit, any vehicle or vehicle combination carrying a load extending more than three feet beyond the front of the vehicle.

Who's behind it

6 senators are its authors⁠. All 6 are Republicans.

18 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.