Assembly Approves IoH 3.0, Heads to Governor’s Desk

A third version of Wisconsin’s Implements of Husbandry bill is being sent to Gov. Scott Walker for final approval. The Assembly passed the so-called ‘IoH 3.0’ on Tuesday by a voice vote after the Senate approved a companion measure earlier this session.

The bill’s authors, Sen. Jerry Petrowski of Marathon and Rep. Keith Ripp from Lodi, say their latest revisions address items that are technical in nature but still critically important to farmers operating machinery on state roadways.

“The main thing to remember is this is going to be an on-going process and more changes will likely be made along the way,” Sen. Petrowski told Wisconsin Ag Connection after the final vote. “Our ultimate goal is to strike that balance between allowing farmers the opportunity to transport their heavier equipment while protecting the safety of motorists and maintaining the quality of the roads.”

Some of the key provisions of the bill include clarification of the definition of ‘farm tractor’ to reflect recent changes in statutory language; updates statutes on the use of slow moving vehicle signs; specifies what type of lighting and markings must be used for certain types of equipment; changes Ag-CMV standards to match the language used in federal statutes; and allows an applicant of a no fee permit to submit only one application for multiple IoH or Ag-CMVs if those vehicles are identical.

Meanwhile, the bill also clarifies that the disclosure of the equipment’s axle weight and gross vehicle weight must be offered in writing by the dealer during the point of sale.

The original law was signed in April 2014 in an attempt to standardize the rules farm equipment operators must follow when driving larger implements on roads and highways. A revised policy was then adopted early last year.

Source: Wisconsin Ag Connections (http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=164&yr=2016)