SB 481 — An Act amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in size, weight and load, providing for milk hauling during inclement weather and emergency declaration and further providing for permit for movement during course of manufacture.

PRINTER'S NO.   439

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 481
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY J. WARD, YAW, ROTHMAN, PENNYCUICK, BROOKS,
        LANGERHOLC, STREET, BARTOLOTTA, PHILLIPS-HILL, COSTA,
        HUTCHINSON, STEFANO, MARTIN, CULVER, DUSH AND MASTRIANO,
        MARCH 20, 2025

     REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, MARCH 20, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 75 (Vehicles) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 2      Statutes, in size, weight and load, providing for milk
 3      hauling during inclement weather and emergency declaration
 4      and further providing for permit for movement during course
 5      of manufacture.
 6      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 7   hereby enacts as follows:
 8      Section 1.    Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 9   Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
10   § 4910.   Milk hauling during inclement weather and emergency
11                declaration.
12      (a)    Movement upon highways.--A combination up to 80,000
13   pounds, combination consistent with section 4968(a.2)(4)
14   (relating to permit for movement during course of manufacture)
15   or farm vehicle which is hauling a milk product to or from a
16   milk plant or to or from a dairy farm, or is traveling to a
17   dairy farm to pick up a milk product, shall be allowed by the
18   department, local authorities and law enforcement to move upon
 1   highways within their respective jurisdiction 24 hours a day,
 2   seven days a week during:
 3             (1)   Inclement weather as defined in department
 4      regulations when the department restricts the operation of a
 5      combination or farm vehicle.
 6             (2)   A declared national, State or local emergency when
 7      the Governor issues a proclamation or executive order
 8      impeding the operation of a combination or farm vehicle.
 9      (b)    Decal.--A one-time decal, designed and issued by the
10   board, that identifies the combination or farm vehicle as a
11   licensed milk hauler shall be placed on the driver's side of the
12   cab of the combination or farm vehicle. The board shall charge a
13   fee for the issuance of the decal, the amount of which fee may
14   not exceed the administrative costs of producing and issuing the
15   decal and may impose the same fee to replace a decal that has
16   been lost, stolen, damaged or become illegible.
17      (c)    Penalty prohibited.--A penalty may not be imposed on the
18   driver of a combination or farm vehicle if the operation of the
19   vehicle complies with this section.
20      (d)    Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
21   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
22   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
23      "Board."     The Pennsylvania Milk Board.
24      "Dairy farm."     As defined in section 1 of the act of July 2,
25   1935 (P.L.589, No.210), referred to as the Milk Sanitation Law.
26      "Milk plant."     As defined in section 1 of the Milk Sanitation
27   Law.
28      Section 2.     Section 4968(a.2)(4) and (b) of Title 75 are
29   amended to read:
30   § 4968.    Permit for movement during course of manufacture.

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 1      * * *
 2      (a.2)   Specifications.--
 3            * * *
 4            (4)   A combination [of vehicles] which is hauling milk to
 5            or from a [manufacturer] milk plant or to or from a dairy
 6            farm, or is traveling to a dairy farm to pick up milk,
 7            may be permitted by the department and local authorities
 8            to move upon highways within their respective
 9            jurisdictions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, [except
10            during inclement weather as defined in department
11            regulations,] consistent with section 4910 (relating to
12            milk hauling during inclement weather and emergency
13            declaration) if the gross weight does not exceed 95,000
14            pounds and the weight of any nonsteering axle does not
15            exceed 21,000 pounds. A permit may be issued for this
16            type of movement upon an interstate highway. An
17            application to the department for the movement of milk,
18            except for raw milk, shall designate the route the
19            applicant requests to use.
20            * * *
21      (b)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
22   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
23   subsection:
24      "Bulk milk."    The term shall mean milk, as defined in section
25   1 of the act of July 2, 1935 (P.L.589, No.210), referred to as
26   the Milk Sanitation Law, which is not transported in packages.
27      "Condensed milk" and "evaporated milk."    The term shall mean
28   manufactured dairy products as defined in section 1 of the act
29   of July 2, 1935 (P.L.589, No.210), referred to as the Milk
30   Sanitation Law, which is not transported in packages.

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 1      "Dairy farm."    As defined in section 1 of the act of July 2,
 2   1935 (P.L.589, No.210), referred to as the Milk Sanitation Law.
 3      "Hot box."    Consists of an enclosure consisting of welded
 4   steel plate chained to a semitrailer with a removable lid lined
 5   with refraction for purposes of insulation and retention of
 6   heat.
 7      "Milk."    The term shall mean any of the following:
 8           (1)   Bulk milk.
 9           (2)   Evaporated milk.
10           (3)   Raw milk.
11           (4)   Condensed milk.
12      "Milk plant."    As defined in section 1 of the act of July 2,
13   1935 (P.L.589, No.210), referred to as the Milk Sanitation Law.
14      "Raw milk."    [Has the meaning given to it in] As defined in
15   section 8(a) of the act of July 2, 1935 (P.L.589, No.210),
16   referred to as the Milk Sanitation Law.
17      "Sugar."   The term shall refer to granulated raw, semi-
18   refined or refined sugar derived from the processing of sugar
19   cane or sugar beets, requiring further processing and not
20   intended for direct consumption or retail sale.
21      Section 3.    This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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