HB2598 • 2025

Clarifies that a rail fixed guideway system is not a commercial motor vehicle for the purposes of the Oregon Vehicle Code.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Representative Ruiz,, Senator Frederick, Senator Pham,
Last action: 2025-06-27
Official status: In House Committee
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Clarifies that a rail fixed guideway system is not a commercial motor vehicle for the purposes of the Oregon Vehicle Code.

Digest: The Act makes clear that a light rail car or monorail are not commercial motor vehicles.

What This Bill Does

Digest: The Act makes clear that a light rail car or monorail are not commercial motor vehicles.
(Flesch Readability Score: 68.9).
Clarifies that a rail fixed guideway system is not a commercial motor vehicle for the purposes of the Oregon Vehicle Code.
Relating to: Relating to rail fixed guideway public transportation system.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2025-06-27 House
In committee upon adjournment.
2025-01-17 House
Referred to Transportation.
2025-01-13 House
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: The Act makes clear that a light rail car or monorail are not commercial motor vehicles. (Flesch Readability Score: 68.9).
Clarifies that a rail fixed guideway system is not a commercial motor vehicle for the purposes of the Oregon Vehicle Code.
Relating to: Relating to rail fixed guideway public transportation system.
Current location: In House Committee

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 2598
Sponsored by Representative RUIZ, Senator FREDERICK; Senator PHAM K (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: The Act makes clear that a light rail car or monorail are not commercial motor vehicles.
(Flesch Readability Score: 68.9).
Clarifies that a rail fixed guideway system is not a commercial motor vehicle for the purposes
of the Oregon Vehicle Code.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to rail fixed guideway public transportation system; amending ORS 801.208.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
ORS 801.208 is amended to read:
801.208. (1) “Commercial motor vehicle” means a motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles
and one or more vehicles that:
(a) Has a gross combination weight rating or gross combination weight of 26,001 pounds or
more, whichever is greater, inclusive of one or more towed units, with a gross vehicle weight rating
or gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds, whichever is greater;
(b) Has a gross vehicle weight rating or gross vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds or more;
(c) Is designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver; or
(d) Is of any size and is used in the transportation of hazardous materials.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, the term “commercial motor vehicle” does not
include the following:
(a) An emergency fire vehicle being operated by firefighters as defined in ORS 652.050;
(b) Emergency vehicles being operated by qualified emergency service volunteers as defined in
ORS 401.358;
(c) A motor home used to transport or house, for nonbusiness purposes, the operator or the
operator’s family members or personal possessions; [ or]
(d) A recreational vehicle that is operated solely for personal use[ .]; or
(e) A rail fixed guideway public transportation system operated by a mass transit district
created under ORS chapter 267.
NOTE: Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 3212