SB 2257 Mississippi Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Harvest permits; delete repealer on provisions establishing maximum weight and approved routes of vehicles.

SB 2257 removes a repealer provision from Mississippi law that would have eliminated existing weight and route requirements for harvest permit vehicles. The bill preserves current rules requiring harvest permit holders (such as agricultural haulers transporting crops, wood products, or materials like sand/gravel) to adhere to specific maximum vehicle weights and obtain prior route approvals. These rules include detailed weight limits based on axle spacing (e.g., up to 88,000 lbs with a permit) and restrict tolerance allowances for overweight vehicles. The change ensures these regulations remain in effect rather than phasing them out.

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status died 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Governor

Introduced Feb 7, 2025 Last action Mar 31, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

As Introduced → Current version · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Mississippi's weight limit laws for heavy vehicles, particularly harvest permit vehicles, by removing outdated repealer provisions and updating weight tolerance rules. The changes modernize the statute to clarify how harvest permit holders can operate vehicles with increased weight allowances and route approval requirements. It also adds new provisions for natural gas vehicle weight exemptions and repeals certain subsections effective July 1, 2025.

Scope change

The bill expands clarity on harvest permit vehicle operations by removing obsolete repealer language and adding specific provisions for natural gas vehicle weight exemptions and route designation procedures for timber transport.

TECHNICAL

Removed outdated repealer provisions that deleted previous weight limit laws for harvest permit vehicles

ELIGIBILITY

Added specific weight tolerance allowances for vehicles using compressed or liquefied natural gas engines, allowing up to 2,000 pounds over standard limits based on fuel system weight differences

REQUIREMENT

Added route designation procedures requiring harvest permit holders to notify local authorities before operating on county or municipal roads with increased weight

Added requirements for timber deed grantees to request designated routes from county or municipal authorities within three working days of filing

TIMELINE

Added effective date of July 1, 2025, and repealed certain subsections related to harvest permit weight provisions

Floor votes · Senate Feb 6, 2025 · House Mar 5, 2025

How they voted

51–0

Passed

Total votes 51

Feb 6, 2025

D Democratic16

16 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican35

35 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed As Amended

lower

Mar 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

Amended

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

lower

Feb 10, 2025

Committee

Referred To Transportation

lower

Feb 7, 2025

Introduced

Transmitted To House

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass

upper

Jan 20, 2025

Committee

Referred To Highways and Transportation

upper

1 primary · 4 co-sponsors