Resolve, to Create a
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1209
Committee Amendment CA_A_S41 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " /| " to S.P. 498, L.D. 1209, "Resolve, to Create a
Working Group to Study the Safety and Use of Small Lightweight Vehicles on Maine's
Roads and Highways, the Systems and Laws Governing Antique Vehicles and the General
Improvement of Road Safety"
Amend the resolve by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'Resolve, to Create a Working Group to Study the Safety and Use ofNonconforming
Vehicles on Mtoine's Roads and Highways'
Amend the resolve by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following:
'See. 1. Nonconforming vehicle working group. Resolved: That the Secretary
of State shall convene a working group, referred to in this resolve as "the working group,"
to study the feasibility of allowing registration and use by motorists of vehicles currently
prohibited from operation on the State's roads and highways, referred to in this resolve as
"nonconforming vehicles," including, but not limited to, mini trucks, antique military
vehicles and any other vehicle under 10,000 pounds and operated by a holder of a Class C
license, and to review the systems and laws in place for antique vehicles. The working
group consists of 7 members as follows;
1. The deputy secretary of state for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles or the deputy
secretaiy's designee;
2. One member from the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of State Police, traffic
safety unit wlio is an expert in vehicle safety and emissions standards, appointed by the
Secretary of State;
3. One member who is a representative of a motor vehicle insurance company,
appointed by the Secretary of State;
4. One member who is a representative of a motor vehicle inspection business,
appointed by the Secretary of State;
5. One member who is a representative of a business that imports foreign cars for sale
in the State, appointed by the Secretary of State;
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
ROS
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "4 " to S.P. 498, L.D, 1209 (S~'^l
I 6. One member who is a representative of municipalities, appointed by the Secretary
of State; and
7. One member who is a representative of a transportation museum with a focus on
nonconforming vehicles, appointed by the Secretary of State.
Sec. 2. Duties. Resolved: That the working group shall:
1. Identify the operating standards that prohibit nonconforming vehicles from being
operated on the State's roads and highways;
2. Identify the risks of allowing nonconforming veliicles on the State's roads and
highways;
3. Review and analyze the safety of allowing tlie use ofnonconforming vehicles on the
State's roads and highways, including but not limited to crash safety, vehicle emissions and
speed capabilities, and a comparison of the safety ofnonconforming vehicles to the safety
of vehicles already allowed on the State's roads and highways, including antique vehicles
and motorcycles;
4, Review and analyze laws in other states that allow the use ofnonconforming vehicles
and how the allowance of these vehicles has affected motor vehicle safety in those states;
5. Review and analyze any reports or studies from other states that have considered the
subjects of study described in section 1 and how tlie results of those reports or studies could
relate to the State's roads and highways and motor vehicle systems;
6. Consider the most effective way to allow for nonconforming vehicles to be used on
the State's roads and highways while protecting the safety of those driving them and other
drivers and consider any restrictions on location, annual mileage or driving speed and how
to most effectively register those vehicles to indicate such restrictions, including through
the use of a system similar to those systems used for antique and farm vehicles;
7. Consider how to implement an inspection system that would ensure that
nonconforming vehicles are safe to drive on the State's roads and highways and how such
a system might be similar to or different from the State's current inspection systems for
motor vehicles and antique vehicles; and
8, Recommend whether to implement the registration, inspection and use of
nonconforming vehicles on the State's roads and highways and recommend any related
legislation.
Sec. 3. Compensation. Resolved; That members of the working group may not
be compensated for their work on the working group.
Sec. 4. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Department of the Secretary of State,
Bureau of Motor Vehicles shall provide necessaiy staffing services to the working group
within existing resources,
Sec. 5. Report. Resolved: That tlie Secretary of State shall provide a report by
February 6> 2026 containing the findings and recommendations of the working group,
including any suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on Transportation.
The joint standing committee may introduce legislation for presentation to the Second
Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature based on the recommendations in the report.'
Page2-132LR1595(02)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
ROS
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "/1 " to S.P, 498, L,D, 1209
Amend the resolve by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or
section number to read consecutively,
SUMMARY
This amendment expands the scope of the working group, allowing the working group
to study any vehicle not currently allowed to operate on the State's roads and highways.
This may include mini trucks, antique militaiy vehicles and any other vehicle under 1 0,000
pounds and operated by a holder of a Class C license, The amendment changes the size
and membership of the working group and also adds, to the duties of the working group,
the requirement that the working group identity the operating standards that prohibit
nonconfonning vehicles from being operated on the State's roads and highways and
identify the risks of allowing nonconforming vehicles on the State's roads and highways,
The amendment also changes the date the report is due from December 3,2025 to Februaiy
6,2026.
FISCAL NOTE REQUmED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 04/16/25 t-Rt-
LD 1209 LR 1595(02)
Resolve, to Create a Working Group to Study the Safety and Use of Small Lightweight Vehicles on
Maine's Roads and Highways, the Systems and Laws Governing Antique Vehicles and the General
Improvement of Road Safety
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "^ (^ ^ ]
Committee! Transportation
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase - General Fund
Minor cost increase - Highway Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Additional costs to the Departments of Public Safety and Secretaiy of State associated with serving on the worki
group and reporting the results are expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
LR 1595(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of 1