South Dakota is updating which federal motor carrier safety regulations it adopts by changing the effective date of these rules from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2026. The bill also clarifies that smaller intrastate trucks (under 26,001 pounds) that don't carry hazardous materials or passengers aren't required to follow certain federal safety regulations, and it allows drivers as young as 18 to operate most non-interstate vehicles, while requiring 21-year-olds for interstate and hazardous material transport.
This bill does not directly amend codified state law.
The amendment updates South Dakota's adoption of federal motor carrier regulations from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2026, and clarifies the weight threshold exemption for intrastate vehicles by specifying that vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating, gross combination weight rating, gross vehicle weight, or gross combination weight not exceeding 26,000 pounds are exempt from certain regulations. This STRENGTHENS the bill by providing more precise weight-based exemptions for smaller intrastate carriers.
The amendment updates the federal motor carrier regulations adopted by South Dakota from those in effect as of January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2026, and simultaneously removes a section exempting intrastate drivers from medical certification requirements—STRENGTHENING the bill's safety standards by eliminating that carve-out while keeping the remainder of the motor carrier safety framework intact.
Signed by the Governor S.J. 266
Delivered to the Governor S.J. 228
Signed by the Speaker H.J. 267
Signed by the President S.J. 223
House of Representatives Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 44, NAYS 20. H.J. 250
House of Representatives Deferred to another day H.J. 240
House of Representatives Remove from Consent Calendar H.J. 223
Transportation Certified uncontested, placed on consent H.J. 11
Transportation Do Pass Passed, YEAS 12, NAYS 0. H.J. 11
Transportation Scheduled for hearing
First read in House and referred to House Transportation H.J. 114
Senate Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 30, NAYS 3. S.J. 76
Transportation Do Pass Amended Passed, YEAS 5, NAYS 0. S.J. 1
Transportation Motion to amend S.J. 1
Transportation Scheduled for hearing S.J. 1
First read in Senate and referred to Senate Transportation S.J. 17
Do Pass Amended
Transportation — Do Pass
Do Pass Amended
Transportation — Do Pass Amended