Bill > HB169

This bill modifies the legal definition and operational requirements for cotton trailers in Missouri. Specifically, the bill removes the previous restriction that cotton trailers must be used "exclusively" for transporting cotton and increases the allowable speed from forty to seventy miles per hour. The bill also adds new provisions detailing how cargo must be secured on cotton trailers when traveling between fields or to market, including requirements that cargo must be immobilized, transported in sided vehicles with adequate walls, fully contained within the vehicle's structure, or secured in accordance with federal law. The goal appears to be providing more flexibility for agricultural operators while ensuring cargo safety during transportation. If a cotton trailer fails to meet these cargo security requirements, the operator could be charged with a class C misdemeanor. These changes aim to update and clarify the regulations surrounding agricultural transportation equipment, balancing practical needs of farmers with road safety considerations.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB169&year=2025&code=R