SF 243: Relating to the operation of railroad trains by a crew of two or more persons, and providing penalties

What it does

This bill requires a locomotive or railroad train operated by a class I rail carrier or class II rail carrier, when operating on a railroad track in connection with the movement of passengers or freight, to be operated by a crew consisting of at least two qualified railroad employees. The federal surface transportation board (STB) is an independent federal agency that is charged with the economic regulation of various modes of surface transportation including primarily freight rail. The STB has defined three classes of railway carriers, designated as class I, class II, and class III, respectively, according to annual revenue criteria.

Senate subcommittee · named February 23, 2023

• Sen. Tom Shipley (R) · tom.shipley@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Liz Bennett (D) · liz.bennett@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Dan Zumbach (R) · dan.zumbach@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 2 for, 9 against

For: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen; SMART-Transportation Division

Against: BNSF Railway Co.; Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad; Burlington Junction Railway; CN Rail; Davenport Industrial Railroad; Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI); Iowa Interstate Railroad; Patriot Rail (Keokuk Junction Railway); Union Pacific Railroad

In plain words

1. February 8, 2023Filed in the Senate and sent to the Transportation committee
2. February 15, 2023Senate subcommittee named: Shipley, Bennett and Webster
3. February 23, 2023Senate subcommittee named: Shipley, Bennett and Zumbach
4. February 23, 2023Subcommittee recommended passing it
5. March 2, 2023Approved by the Senate committee, and given a new number: SF 492