I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3473 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit limitations on certain 
grants due to standards for covered farm vehicles and drivers, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 
Mr. BARLETTA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit limita-
tions on certain grants due to standards for covered 
farm vehicles and drivers, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Local Farm Vehicle 
Flexibility Act’’. 
SEC. 2. GRANTS TO STATES. 
Chapter 311 of title 49, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in section 31101— 
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(A) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), 
and (4) as paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), respec-
tively; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the 
following: 
‘‘(2) ‘covered farm vehicle’ means a motor vehi-
cle (including an articulated motor vehicle)— 
‘‘(A) that— 
‘‘(i) is registered or otherwise des-
ignated by the State for use in, or trans-
portation activities related to, the oper-
ation of farms; 
‘‘(ii) is equipped with a special reg-
istration plate or other State-issued des-
ignation to allow for identification of the 
vehicle as a farm vehicle by law enforce-
ment personnel; 
‘‘(iii) is traveling in the State of reg-
istration or designation or in another 
State; 
‘‘(iv) is operated by— 
‘‘(I) a farm owner or operator; 
‘‘(II) a ranch owner or operator; 
or 
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with respect to which the vehicle is 
being operated; and 
‘‘(viii) is not transporting materials 
that require a placard; or 
‘‘(B) that— 
‘‘(i) meets the requirements under 
subparagraph (A) (other than clause (vi) 
of such subparagraph); 
‘‘(ii) is operated pursuant to a crop 
share farm lease agreement; 
‘‘(iii) is owned by a tenant with re-
spect to that agreement; and 
‘‘(iv) is transporting the landlord’s 
portion of the crops under that agree-
ment.’’; and 
(2) in section 31102— 
(A) in subsection (b)(2)(E), by striking the 
period at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
(B) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub-
section (f); and 
(C) by inserting after subsection (d) the 
following: 
‘‘(e) LIMITATION OF AUTHORITY; STATE STANDARDS 
FOR COVERED FARM VEHICLES AND DRIVERS.—The Sec-
retary may not terminate, reduce, limit, or otherwise inter-
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fere with the amount or timing of grants that a State is 
otherwise eligible to receive under this title or title 23 as 
a result of any minimum standard or exemption provided 
by the State for a covered farm vehicle or the driver of 
such vehicle that is less stringent than the requirements 
for commercial motor vehicles and drivers established 
under title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, including re-
quirements pertaining to— 
‘‘(1) controlled substances and alcohol use and 
testing; 
‘‘(2) commercial driver’s licensing; 
‘‘(3) driver qualifications; 
‘‘(4) medical certifications; 
‘‘(5) driving and operating commercial vehicles; 
‘‘(6) parts and accessories for the safe oper-
ation of commercial vehicles; 
‘‘(7) the maximum hours of service of drivers; 
‘‘(8) vehicle inspection repair and maintenance; 
‘‘(9) employee safety and health standards; and 
‘‘(10) recordkeeping related to compliance with 
such standards.’’. 
Æ 
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