CS/HB 345 Summary

• Expands vehicles authorized to display amber lights to include commercial motor vehicles and trailers designed to transport unprocessed logs or pulpwood, with lights affixed to the rearmost point.

• Allows Department of Transportation to pay utility relocation costs for municipally and county-owned utilities in rural areas of critical economic concern if the utility cannot afford the work within 10 years.

• Authorizes the department to factor future revenues from wireless communication facility leases on department property through agreements with investors structured as tax-exempt financings, with proceeds used for statewide transportation capital expenditures.

• Exempts certain signs from permit requirements including tourist-oriented business signs, farm harvest season signs, school acknowledgement signs, and sports facility displays, contingent on federal funding compliance.

• Limits tourist-oriented directional signs to rural roads and intersections only, prohibiting placement in urban areas or at freeway/expressway interchanges.

• Effective date: July 1, 2014.