Idaho Efficient Vehicle Demonstration Act of 2009

Where This Stands

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Signed

Currently IN_COMMITTEE. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

The bill changes federal weight limits for commercial vehicles in Idaho, potentially impacting road wear, bridge safety, and transportation efficiency for freight companies operating within the state until July 1, 2013.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Commercial freight carriers

These companies gain the ability to operate heavier vehicle combinations on specific Interstate routes.

Idaho Transportation Department

The department is required to submit a data collection plan and monitor the impacts of the heavier vehicles.

What changed

Current stage: IN_COMMITTEE.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Summary

This bill would allow commercial trucks weighing up to 129,000 pounds to travel on specific sections of Idaho's Interstate highways. It aims to reduce fuel costs and travel times by preventing heavy trucks from being forced onto smaller local roads.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are these trucks currently forced onto local roads?

Federal law limits Interstate weight to 105,500 pounds, so trucks weighing up to 129,000 pounds—which are allowed on other state roads—must divert to smaller, local routes.

Can the federal government stop this program?

Yes, the Secretary of Transportation can terminate the program if they determine it has adversely affected safety or if the state fails to collect required data.

Why It Matters

The bill changes federal weight limits for commercial vehicles in Idaho, potentially impacting road wear, bridge safety, and transportation efficiency for freight companies operating within the state until July 1, 2013.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Interstate Weight Limit Waiver

The bill seeks to bypass federal weight restrictions by creating a state-specific pilot program that avoids federal funding penalties.

State of Idaho Secretary of Transportation

Connected Entities

bill_numberHouse Bill 395“The Idaho state law establishing the initial pilot project.”Map →

personMr. Simpson“The bill's primary sponsor in the House of Representatives.”Map →

locationNevada“Another state grandfathered into allowing higher weight limits.”Map →

locationMontana“One of the states grandfathered into allowing higher weight limits on highways.”Map →

personMr. Minnick“A co-sponsor of the bill in the House of Representatives.”Map →

locationUtah“Another state grandfathered into allowing higher weight limits.”Map →

personSecretary of Transportation“The head of the Department of Transportation.”Map →

locationWyoming“Another state grandfathered into allowing higher weight limits.”Map →

organizationIdaho Transportation Department“The agency responsible for managing Idaho's transportation infrastructure and ov”Map →

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz20
Current news / social attention level