Senate Transportation advances S.66 on vehicle noise and exhaust rules; committee debates driver‑license renewal and DMV outreach

The Senate Transportation Committee voted to advance a strike‑all amendment to S.66, a bill addressing motor vehicle noise, exhaust modifications and engine compression brakes, while opening debate on related driver‑license renewal changes and DMV outreach requirements.

The amendment directs the Department of Motor Vehicles to develop rules to implement maximum sound levels for motor vehicles and trucks, clarifies enforcement and appeal procedures, preserves existing motorcycle requirements, removes a proposed civil penalty for certain exhaust modifications and permits municipalities to adopt local restrictions on j‑brake use. It sets a rulemaking deadline of July 1, 2026, unless extended by the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (LCAR), and requires the DMV to begin public outreach at least two months before the effective date.

David Leonard, Office of Legislative Council, who drafted the strike‑all amendment, told the committee he had “done it as a strike‑all amendment of S.66, making the modifications that we discussed yesterday,” and walked members through deletions (including language aimed at devices that amplify exhaust sound) and the rulemaking and outreach timeline.

Why it matters: the amendment creates both technical inspection requirements that will need to be written into the DMV inspection manual and a public‑facing education effort. Committee members and agency staff warned that the timing of rulemaking, manual changes and outreach must be coordinated to avoid having enforceable statutory standards with no updated inspection procedures in place.

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