SB 25-162: Railroad Safety Requirements

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

The act requires that, immediately after a railroad notifies the state's watch center in the department of public safety (watch center) of an emergency involving a train, the watch center must notify the public utilities commission (commission) and the office of rail safety (office) of the incident. The commission is required to submit a report to specified committees of the general assembly on the information reported by railroads regarding an emergency involving a train. A crew member of a train operated by a railroad may communicate with first responders during an emergency situation after notifying the railroad dispatch. A crew member has discretion in determining the appropriate response to the emergency situation, including cutting the railroad crossing. A railroad employee or a crew member is immune from civil liability and is not liable in civil damages for actions taken in good faith in the course of a response to an emergency situation involving a train. The act eliminates the shared authority that the commission, the department of public safety, and the department of transportation had to inspect and investigate railroads and grants the commission alone the authority to engage in inspection, investigation, and enforcement activities regarding the following railroads: A class I railroad; A railroad operating on any line that was used by class I railroads as of July 1, 2024; and A passenger railroad. The act requires the office to gather, analyze, and assess information, including: Data to create a more comprehensive understanding of railroad safety; Wayside detector information; Information regarding blocked public crossing locations; Information regarding railroad maintenance activity; An assessment of the state's ability to respond to a large-scale release of hazardous materials from railroad transportation; The best practices for ensuring financial responsibility for response, cleanup, and damages from major rail events, including reviewing best practices from other states; and Communication issues impacting railroad lines in the state. Beginning on or before July 1, 2027, a railroad regulated by the commission is required to pay a fee to cover the costs incurred by the commission and the office in relation to the act. The commission shall determine a methodology for calculating the fee by rule, and the commission may include specified criteria in the calculation. The total amount collected pursuant to the annual fee must not exceed $2,900,000 in a calendar year. A railroad regulated by the commission must pay the fee in equal quarterly installments and is subject to penalties and interest if they fail to timely pay the fee. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 41

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. June 4, 2025Governor Signed
2. May 14, 2025Signed by the President of the Senate
3. May 14, 2025Signed by the Speaker of the House
4. May 14, 2025Sent to the Governor
5. May 6, 2025Senate Considered House Amendments - Result was to Concur - Repass
6. May 2, 2025House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
7. May 1, 2025House Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to House Committee of the Whole
8. May 1, 2025House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee
9. April 29, 2025House Committee on Finance Refer Amended to Appropriations
10. April 28, 2025Introduced In House - Assigned to Finance
11. April 23, 2025Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments
12. April 22, 2025Senate Second Reading Passed with Amendments - Committee, Floor

Showing 12 most recent of 15 actions. Full history