Bill Summary
The "Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety Act of 2025" (HAULS Act of 2025) aims to amend the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 by modifying certain exemptions related to hours of service requirements for drivers transporting agricultural commodities.
Key provisions of the bill include:
1. **Modification of Transportation Radius**: The legislation changes the rules regarding the transportation of agricultural commodities, allowing drivers to operate within a 150 air-mile radius from either the source or destination of the commodities, rather than being restricted to designated planting and harvesting periods as determined by each state.
2. **Expanded Definition of Agricultural Commodities**: The bill revises the definition of "agricultural commodity" to align with federal regulations, broadening it to include a variety of nonprocessed products, living animals (including fish and livestock), and a range of minimally processed foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables.
3. **Implementation Timeline**: The Secretary of Transportation is required to update the regulatory definition of "agricultural commodity" within 180 days of the bill's enactment, ensuring these changes are promptly put into effect.
Overall, the HAULS Act of 2025 is designed to facilitate the movement of agricultural products, enhance efficiency in transportation, and ensure that regulations reflect the diverse nature of agricultural commodities.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety Act of 2025" could affect people:
1. **Increased Flexibility for Farmers**: The amendments to the hours of service requirements for drivers transporting agricultural commodities allow for more flexibility in transportation within a 150 air-mile radius. This could benefit farmers by enabling them to get their products to market more quickly and efficiently, especially during peak seasons. As a result, farmers may have reduced spoilage of perishable goods and improved profitability.
2. **Enhanced Safety for Drivers**: By clarifying and redefining what constitutes agricultural commodities, the HAULS Act could lead to improved safety regulations tailored specifically for agricultural transport. Drivers may receive better training and guidelines specific to their duties, which can enhance road safety. This could lead to a reduction in accidents involving agricultural haulers, benefiting both the drivers and the general public.
3. **Broader Definition of Agricultural Commodities**: The expansion of the definition of agricultural commodities to include a wider range of products, such as nonprocessed fruits and vegetables, animal feeds, and even insects, could open up new markets for farmers and producers. This change may encourage diversification in farming practices, leading to a greater variety of products available to consumers and potentially supporting local economies through increased agricultural activity.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3552 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3552
To amend the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 to modify
certain agricultural exemptions for hours of service requirements, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 17, 2025
Mrs. Fischer introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 to modify
certain agricultural exemptions for hours of service requirements, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock
Safety Act of 2025'' or the ``HAULS Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. TRANSPORTATION OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES AND FARM SUPPLIES.
Section 229 of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 (49
U.S.C. 31136 note; Public Law 106-159) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ``during planting and harvest periods, as
determined by each State,''; and
(B) by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the
following:
``(A) drivers transporting agricultural commodities
within a 150 air-mile radius from--
``(i) the source of the agricultural
commodities; or
``(ii) the destination of the agricultural
commodities;''; and
(2) in subsection (e)(8), by striking ``during the planting
and harvesting seasons within each State, as determined by the
State, and livestock feed at any time of the year'' and
inserting ``and livestock feed''.
SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY.
(a) In General.--Section 229(e) of the Motor Carrier Safety
Improvement Act of 1999 (49 U.S.C. 31136 note; Public Law 106-159) is
amended by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following:
``(7) Agricultural commodity.--The term `agricultural
commodity' has the meaning given the term in section 395.2 of
title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor
regulation).''.
(b) Rulemaking.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall revise the
definition of the term ``agricultural commodity'' in section 395.2 of
title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to include--
(1) any nonprocessed product planted or harvested for food,
feed, fuel, or fiber;
(2)(A) any nonhuman living animal, including--
(i) fish;
(ii) insects; and
(iii) livestock (as defined in section 602 of the
Emergency Livestock Feed Assistance Act of 1988 (7
U.S.C. 1471)); and
(B) the nonprocessed products of any nonhuman living
animal, including--
(i) milk;
(ii) eggs; and
(iii) honey;
(3) nonprocessed forestry, aquacultural, horticultural, and
floricultural commodities;
(4) fresh or minimally processed fruits and vegetables,
including fruits and vegetables that are rinsed, cooled, cut,
ripened, or otherwise minimally processed, as determined by the
Secretary; and
(5) animal feed, including the ingredients of animal feed.
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