SB 337, the Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act, would amend federal motor carrier law to strengthen oversight of the household goods moving industry. The bill clarifies and expands the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s and the Secretary of Transportation’s authority to assess civil penalties for violations of household-goods-related commercial regulations, and it expressly allows states to use grant funds to enforce federal household goods laws for interstate moves and, where state law is compatible, intrastate moves as well.
The bill also adds new registration and disclosure requirements for motor carriers, brokers, and freight forwarders. It defines and requires designation of a “principal place of business,” requires certain applicants to disclose recent common ownership, management, control, or familial relationships with related transportation businesses, and authorizes the Secretary to withhold, suspend, amend, or revoke registrations when a valid principal place of business is not designated. In addition, it provides that fines and penalties imposed in state proceedings under the relevant household goods enforcement section are retained by the state that imposed them.
Impact
SB 337 would amend multiple provisions of title 49 of the U.S. Code, primarily affecting federal motor carrier registration, enforcement, and household goods transportation oversight. It would expand state enforcement authority and clarify federal penalty-assessment powers, while also creating new compliance obligations for motor carriers, brokers, freight forwarders, and related applicants seeking registration or USDOT authority. States that choose to participate could use federal grant funds for household goods enforcement, and states imposing penalties under the bill’s framework would keep those revenues.
Sentiment
The available legislative record suggests generally favorable treatment of the bill. It was reported by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee without amendment, and there are no recorded committee transcripts or votes showing opposition in the provided materials. The absence of amendments or recorded dissent indicates the measure moved forward with little visible controversy at this stage.
Contention
The main policy issues appear to be the scope of federal and state enforcement authority and the new registration requirements for industry participants. Potential points of contention include whether states should be encouraged or allowed to use grant funds for intrastate household goods enforcement, whether the new principal-place-of-business standard could impose additional compliance burdens on carriers and brokers, and whether disclosure of ownership and familial relationships is sufficiently broad. The bill’s retention of penalties by states may also be of interest to stakeholders concerned about enforcement incentives and revenue use.
Facilitates changes to certain terms of State or federal tenant-based housing subsidy due to increase in household members, emergency conditions, and financial barriers faced by head-of-household.