A bill that would relax weight and load restrictions for farm equipment on Nebraska’s roads has advanced out of a legislative committee.
The Transportation and Telecommunications Committee voted 7-0 on Thursday to send the measure to the full Legislature for debate.
The newest version of the bill would exempt tractors, combines, fertilizer spreaders and other heavy farm implements from the restrictions on Nebraska’s highways. Some producers have complained that the current rules haven’t kept pace with modern farm equipment, which is larger and heavier than in the past.
Weight and load restrictions would remain in place for bridges.
The Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation and the Nebraska Cattlemen Association have identified the bill as one of their top priorities in this year’s session.
