Local Farm Vehicle Flexibility Act

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--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) 
                as paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) `covered farm vehicle' means a motor vehicle 
        (including an articulated motor vehicle)--
                    ``(A) that--
                            ``(i) is registered or otherwise designated 
                        by the State for use in, or transportation 
                        activities related to, the operation of farms;
                            ``(ii) is equipped with a special 
                        registration plate or other State-issued 
                        designation to allow for identification of the 
                        vehicle as a farm vehicle by law enforcement 
                        personnel;
                            ``(iii) is traveling in the State of 
                        registration or designation or in another 
                        State;
                            ``(iv) is operated by--
                                    ``(I) a farm owner or operator;
                                    ``(II) a ranch owner or operator; 
                                or
                                    ``(III) an employee or family 
                                member of an individual specified in 
                                subclause (I) or (II);
                            ``(v) is transporting to or from a farm or 
                        ranch--
                                    ``(I) agricultural commodities;
                                    ``(II) livestock;
                                    ``(III) agricultural supplies; or
                                    ``(IV) machinery, including 
                                machinery being transported for the 
                                purpose of performance of agricultural 
                                production activity or for the purpose 
                                of servicing or repairing the item 
                                being transported;
                            ``(vi) is not used in the operations of a 
                        for-hire motor carrier;
                            ``(vii) has a gross vehicle weight rating 
                        or gross vehicle weight, whichever is greater, 
                        that is--
                                    ``(I) 26,001 pounds or less; or
                                    ``(II) greater than 26,001 pounds 
                                and is traveling within the State of 
                                registration or designation or within 
                                150 air miles of the farm or ranch 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 respect 
                        to that agreement; and
                            ``(iv) is transporting the landlord's 
                        portion of the crops under that agreement.''; 
                        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 subsection 
                (f); and
                    (C) by inserting after subsection (d) the 
                following:
    ``(e) Limitation of Authority; State Standards for Covered Farm 
Vehicles and Drivers.--The Secretary may not terminate, reduce, limit, 
or otherwise interfere 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 requirements 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 operation 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.''.

Summary: Local Farm Vehicle Flexibility Act This bill prohibits the Department of Transportation from terminating, reducing, limitoing, or otherwise interfering with the amount or timing of grants a state is otherwise eligible to receive as a result of any minimum standard or exemption the state gives a covered farm vehicle or the driver of such vehicle less stringent than federal requirements for commercial motor vehicles and drivers. A covered farm vehicle means any motor vehicle meeting certain gross weight requirements and:  registered or otherwise designated by a state for use in, or transportation activities related to, the operation of farms; operated by a farm or ranch owner or operator, or an employee or family member; transporting to or from a farm or ranch agricultural commodities, livestock, agricultural supplies, or machinery; and not used in the operations of a for-hire motor carrier, nor transporting materials requiring a placard.  A covered farm vehicle may also be one meeting these requirements but operated pursuant to a crop share farm lease agreement, owned by a tenant under that agreement, and transporting the landlord's portion of the crops.