The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bipartisan bill to reauthorize surface transportation programs for five years. The bill would authorize $580 billion for highway and rail programs through fiscal year 2031.

After a 15-hour markup session that considered some 160 amendments, the committee approved the bill by a vote of 62-2.

Some of the provisions include:

• An amendment to allow states to opt in to increase weight limits on federal interstates up to 91,000 pounds gross vehicle weight on six axles for single combination vehicles that comply with the federal bridge formula.

• A new annual registration fee of $130 for electric vehicles and $35 for plug-in hybrid vehicles, with the revenue dedicated to the Highway Trust Fund.

• Allowing a commercial motor vehicle transporting dry bulk goods to carry up to 110 percent of the maximum weight on any axle or axle group, including any enforcement tolerance.

• Establishing a task force on developing a 21^st Century surface transportation workforce, including identifying factors influencing individuals pursuing careers in surface transportation, barriers to attracting individuals in surface transportation careers, and impacts of emerging technologies on the surface transportation workforce.

• Authorizing the National Academies of Sciences to study the establishment of a Federal Infrastructure Bank to facilitate investment in, and the long-term financing of, economically viable infrastructure projects.

• Establishing standards for exemptions from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, including regular submission of accident and incident data to DOT, immediate notification to DOT in the event of a crash that results in a fatality or serious bodily injury, and maintaining a copy of the exemption while operating a motor vehicle.

• Requiring FMCSA to issue a final rule relating to experience or qualifications for officers of freight brokers and freight forwarders.

• Authorizing the Transportation Research Board to conduct a study of the safety and economic impacts of cabotage violations using commercial motor vehicles.

• Requiring FMCSA to issue regulations to prohibit the use of predatory commercial motor vehicle lease-purchase programs by motor carriers.

• Requiring a shipper, receiver, manufacturer, warehouse, distribution center, or any other business entity that is receiving or sending goods by commercial motor vehicle to allow a commercial motor vehicle driver access to use the restroom facilities at such establishment.

• Extending the 18-20 year-old CMV driver program in interstate commerce through September 30, 2031.

• Strengthening the certification process for Electronic Logging Device providers and requiring FMCSA to verify the applicants against delisted providers.

• Authorizing the FMCSA to remove an entry-level driver training provider from the Training Provider Registry, if the provider fails to disclose an ownership or management relationship with another provider who was removed from the Training Provider Registry or fails to maintain and enforce policies relating to sexual assault and sexual harassment.

• Directing FMCSA to require employers to maintain records of all post-accident alcohol or controlled substance tests required under section 382.303 of such title for a minimum of five years.

• Directing FMCSA to issue a final rule to implement the Beyond Compliance program, which will allow recognition, including credit or an improved SMS percentile, for a motor carrier that installs advanced safety equipment; uses enhanced driver fitness measures; adopts fleet safety management tools, technologies, and programs; or satisfies other standards determined appropriate by FMCSA.

• Requiring a National Motor Vehicle Per-Mile User Fee Pilot program that would preserve the “user-pays” principle of the Highway Trust Fund and report on the differential effects of a national per-mile road usage charge and the federal motor fuels tax between urban and rural divers.

• Limiting the annual hazardous materials registration fee to $500 for small entities and $5,000 for large entities.

• Directing DOT to study the feasibility of issuing material-specific hazardous materials endorsements to a CDL for transportation in interstate and intrastate commerce.

The bill will now proceed to a vote in the full House of Representatives. It will also have to pass a vote in the Senate, which has not yet introduced a companion bill.

Also, the House legislation does not include any reauthorization of or changes to federal fuel taxes or the Federal Excise Tax on trucks, tractors or trailers. Those issues fall under the jurisdiction of the House Ways and Means Committee and will be considered separately.