EXEMPTIONS FROM REQUIREMENTS FOR COVERED FARM VEHICLES.

SEC. 32934. [49 U.S.C. 31136 note] EXEMPTIONS FROM REQUIREMENTS FOR COVERED FARM VEHICLES. (a) Federal Requirements.—A covered farm vehicle, including the individual operating that vehicle, shall be exempt from the following: (1) Any requirement relating to commercial driver’s licenses established under chapter 313 of title 49, United States Code. (2) Any requirement relating to drug-testing established under chapter 313 of title 49, United States Code. (3) Any requirement relating to medical certificates established under— (A) subchapter III of chapter 311 of title 49, United States Code; or (B) chapter 313 of title 49, United States Code. (4) Any requirement relating to hours of service established under— (A) subchapter III of chapter 311 of title 49, United States Code; or (B) chapter 315 of title 49, United States Code. (5) Any requirement relating to vehicle inspection, repair, and maintenance established under— (A) subchapter III of chapter 311 of title 49, United States Code; or (B) chapter 315 of title 49, United States Code. (b) State Requirements.— (1) In general.—Federal transportation funding to a State may not be terminated, limited, or otherwise interfered with as a result of the State exempting a covered farm vehicle, including the individual operating that vehicle, from— (A) a requirement described in subsection (a) or a compatible State requirement; or (B) any other minimum standard provided by a State relating to the operation of that vehicle. (2) Exception.—Paragraph (1) does not apply with respect to a covered farm vehicle transporting hazardous materials that require a placard. (c) Covered Farm Vehicle Defined.— (1) In general.—In this section, the term “covered farm vehicle” means a motor vehicle (including an articulated motor vehicle)— (A) that— (i) is traveling in the State in which the vehicle is registered or another State; (ii) 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); (iii) is transporting to or from a farm or ranch— (I) agricultural commodities; (II) livestock; or (III) machinery or supplies; (iv) except as provided in paragraph (2), is not used in the operations of a for-hire motor carrier; and (v) is equipped with a special license plate or other designation by the State in which the vehicle is registered to allow for identification of the vehicle as a farm vehicle by law enforcement personnel; and (B) that 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 traveling within the State or within 150 air miles of the farm or ranch with respect to which the vehicle is being operated. (2) Inclusion.—In this section, the term “covered farm vehicle” includes a motor vehicle that meets the requirements of paragraph (1) (other than paragraph (1)(A)(iv)) and— (A) is operated pursuant to a crop share farm lease agreement; (B) is owned by a tenant with respect to that agreement; and (C) is transporting the landlord’s portion of the crops under that agreement. (d) Safety Study.—The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a study of the exemption required by subsection (a) as follows: (1) Data and analysis of covered farm vehicles shall include— (A) the number of vehicles that are operated subject to each of the regulatory exemptions permitted under subsection (a); (B) the number of drivers that operate covered farm vehicles subject to each of the regulatory exemptions permitted under subsection (a); (C) the number of crashes involving covered farm vehicles; (D) the number of occupants and non-occupants injured in crashes involving covered farm vehicles; (E) the number of fatalities of occupants and non-occupants killed in crashes involving farm vehicles; (F) crash investigations and accident reconstruction investigations of all fatalities in crashes involving covered farm vehicles; (G) overall operating mileage of covered farm vehicles; (H) numbers of covered farm vehicles that operate in neighboring States; and (I) any other data the Secretary deems necessary to analyze and include. (2) A listing of State regulations issued and maintained in each State that are identical to the Federal regulations that are subject to exemption in subsection (a). (3) The Secretary shall report the findings of the study to the appropriate committees of Congress not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act. (e) Construction.—Nothing in this section shall be construed as authority for the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe regulations.