A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Safe Routes Act of 2025," seeks to amend title 23 of the United States Code. It directs the Secretary of Transportation to waive vehicle weight limitations for specific logging vehicles. These covered vehicles must be transporting raw or unfinished forest products like logs, pulpwood, biomass, or wood chips. Additionally, the vehicles must travel no more than 150 air miles on the Interstate System from their origin to a facility. The waiver is restricted to specific State legal weight tolerances in effect at the time of enactment.
Yes· 3 of 11
- Scored +4
Would business owners be better off under this?
Logging and timber industry owners benefit directly from reduced operational constraints.
- Scored +4
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The bill supports economic activity and logistics essential to rural resource-based economies.
- Scored +3
Is this likely to create jobs?
By reducing transport costs for logging, it may support job stability and growth in the forestry sector.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
Increasing heavy vehicle loads on roads may have localized environmental or infrastructure impacts.
- Scored -1
Does this repair or build roads and bridges?
Allowing heavier loads may increase wear and tear on the Interstate System.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Weight Limit Waivers for Logging: The Secretary of Transportation would be required to waive vehicle weight limits for "covered logging vehicles," which could benefit those in the logging industry (Section 2, subsection z, 1).
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Efficient Transport of Forest Products: By allowing vehicles to transport raw or unfinished forest products like logs or wood chips without standard weight limits, the bill addresses specific transport needs (Section 2, subsection z, 3A).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Weight Limit Restrictions: The weight waiver is limited to specific State legal weight tolerances that were in effect on the date of the subsection's enactment (Section 2, subsection z, 2).
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Distance Limitations: The benefits of this waiver only apply if the vehicle is traveling a distance of not more than 150 air miles on the Interstate System (Section 2, subsection z, 3B).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — Logging and timber industry owners benefit directly from reduced operational constraints. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill supports economic activity and logistics essential to rural resource-based economies. Would farmers be better off under this? — The bill may indirectly benefit the agricultural-adjacent forestry and biomass sectors. Would union members be better off under this? — Increased efficiency in the logging industry may support workforce stability.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Logging companies and wood product businesses benefit from more efficient transportation logistics. Is this likely to create jobs? — By reducing transport costs for logging, it may support job stability and growth in the forestry sector. Is this likely to grow the economy? — The easing of weight restrictions can improve the efficiency of the timber supply chain.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make it easier to do business across state lines? — The bill facilitates the movement of goods across state lines via the Interstate System. Does this give the federal government more power? — It directs the Secretary of Transportation to exercise specific regulatory waivers.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill supports the economic vitality of rural logging and timber communities. Does this better protect public land such as parks and forests? — Streamlining the transport of forest products can assist in active forest management. Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — Increasing heavy vehicle loads on roads may have localized environmental or infrastructure impacts. Does this repair or build roads and bridges? — Allowing heavier loads may increase wear and tear on the Interstate System.
- 3/13/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Introduced in Senate