MS HB1580

Establishes a new privilege tax for vehicles transporting sand, gravel, wood chips, wood shavings, sawdust, fill dirt, agricultural products, or unprocessed forestry products at licensed gross weights between 80,001 and 84,000 pounds, with tax rates of $2,012.00 for common/contract carriers and $1,264.00 for private carriers.

Allows vehicles with maximum weight limits under 80,000 pounds to carry loads 4,000 pounds heavier than normally permitted if transporting the specified materials, with owners required to pay the privilege tax for the increased weight.

Restricts vehicles operating at the 80,001-84,000 pound weight to designated routes and prohibits their use on federal interstate highways or highways designated by the Mississippi Transportation Commission as unsuitable for such weights.

Allocates $350,000 annually from privilege tax collections to be distributed equally among counties for road and bridge fund expenses, in addition to existing distribution formulas.

Effective July 1, 2015, and repeals the previous harvest permit system for overweight vehicles that was set to expire July 1, 2016.