Bill > HR2414

This bill, the Farmers' Freedom Act of 2011, aims to exempt certain farm vehicles and their operators from specific federal regulations that typically apply to commercial motor vehicles. These exemptions include requirements for commercial driver's licenses, drug testing, medical certificates, and limits on driving hours, as outlined in various sections of title 49 of the United States Code. The bill also prevents federal transportation funding from being reduced or withheld from states that choose to exempt these "covered farm vehicles" from their own state-level operating requirements, with the exception of vehicles transporting hazardous materials requiring a placard. A "covered farm vehicle" is defined as a vehicle traveling within or outside its registered state, operated by a farm or ranch owner, operator, employee, or family member, transporting agricultural commodities, livestock, or farm machinery and supplies, and not primarily used by a for-hire motor carrier, provided it has a special license plate or designation identifying it as a farm vehicle. This includes vehicles used under crop share lease agreements to transport a landlord's portion of crops.