This bill makes several changes to the regulation of motor carriers, including limiting the ability of counties and cities to perform regulatory compliance inspections except as authorized by the state. It further alters a number of definitions. Please let ACCG know if you have any issues with this bill.

This GDOT bill previously required counties to remove asbestos pipes in the state right-of-way. The bill was amended to now only require the county to notify GDOT when abandoning asbestos pipe and to retain ownership, similar to the abandonment of a county road. 

HB 179 addresses removal or maintenance of trees and vegetation near billboards on the state road system. Billboard owners would have to get a vegetation removal permit through the Department of Transportation. The law includes protection for trees that are considered historic or landmarks. For signs taller than 75 feet, in order to get a vegetation maintenance permit from the DOT, the owner would have to agree to reduce the height of the sign to 75 feet unless lowering the sign is precluded by a county code or regulation. If the height reduction involves a new support mechanism, like a new pole, then the owner is required to get a written footer inspection from the county. The Department of Transportation may refuse to grant a vegetation maintenance permit for any signs with material that is considered "obscene" in accordance with state or local law.

HB 806 provides that motor fuel tax appropriations made to the Department of Transportation that is not fully spent or contractually obligated at the end of the fiscal year to be carried over into the next fiscal year to be used to provide and maintain an adequate system of public roads and bridges.

This is DOT's annual cleanup bill. Among other provisions, it increases, from $100,000 to $250,000, the amount that DOT is allowed to contract for - without having to go out to bid; allows posting a bid on their website to satisfy the public bid requirement and suffice for having read the bid; and sets out conditions on when, and under what conditions, DOT can close or limit access to state highways. Additionally, counties will no longer be required to get the DOT Commissioner's permission to designate local truck routes so long as they notify DOT of said designation within 90 days of doing so.

This bill allows for a 5 percent weight variance for tow trucks carrying disabled, damaged or wrecked commercial vehicles within 100 miles of the initial emergency tow pick up location. Said variance would require the purchase of a $500 annual permit from the DOT. Tow trucks could not exceed a single axle weight of 21,000 pounds, a load on any tandem axle exceeding 40,000 pounds, or a total load length exceeding 125 feet.

SB 54 grants a 5% weight limit variance for poultry waste. It expands the current 100-mile limit for exceeding the variance in place for other industries to 250-miles for poultry waste. The bill also allows GDOT to issue multi-trip permits for overweight vehicles.

This is enabling legislation allowing cameras to be placed on school buses to record drivers who illegally pass school buses.  The first offense is a fine of $300, the second offense is a fine of $750, and $1,000 fine for subsequent offenses.  The local school board will enter into Local Governmental Agreement for the implementation and operation of the enforcement tool.

This bill creates a new class of low-speed vehicles between 1,300 and 2,500 pounds. It prohibits their operation during most night hours unless the local governing authority approves and they meet certain minimum equipment standards. It allows them to be driven on residential streets with a speed limit less than 35 miles per hour and allows them to tow a trailer and be used for delivering packages of a certain size and weight between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31.

A Senate Committee substitute to SB 146 increases the gross weight limits on all trucks (divisible loads) from 80,000 lbs to 86,000 lbs on state and county roads when a $500 permit is purchased from the State DOT.  Important to note is that the Georgia General Assembly has increased weight and variance limits seven times over the past eight years.  County roads and bridges were not designed to handle past increases, the one proposed by SB 146, nor sure-to-be future ones considered.  The resulting cost to local taxpayers to fix and maintain this exacerbated wear and tear on their county road infrastructure has been and will remain significant.            

This bill creates a new class of personal transportation vehicles that go no faster than 20 mph and weigh less than 1,375 pounds. The vehicles are required to meet minimum equipment standards as defined in the bill.

This resolution urges GDOT to view itself as a planning, management, contracting enterprise that can more easily adjust to variations in funding and workload by contracting out to the private sector to the maximum degree practicable. GDOT is urged to conduct a careful assessment of its current staff and long-term needs; revise its employment and training practices to emphasize skills that are strategically important such as project management, innovation in design and delivery, and planning and programming; and set a goal of a 25-percent reduction in employees by June 30, 2015.

This resolution by the full General Assembly follows the recent snow storms that paralyzed significant parts of Georgia for a week. GDOT is urged to develop a list of qualified and responsible contractors willing to assist in weather or other emergencies and to develop and implement a procedure to preauthorize local governments to clear snow and ice from state routes during an emergency. SR 31 is an identical resolution except it is only by the Senate.

This resolution by the Georgia Senate follows the 2011 snow storms that paralyzed significant parts of Georgia for a week.  GDOT is urged to develop a list of qualified and responsible contractors willing to assist in weather or other emergencies and to develop and implement a procedure to pre-authorize local governments, at local discretion,  to clear snow and ice from state routes during an emergency.

This resolution expresses the Senate's support of efforts to deepen the port in Savannah and Charleston.