91st General Assembly · Funnel one-pager · Monday, November 9, 2026

HF 494: Relating to the operation of railroad trains by a crew of two or more persons, and providing penalties

Died when the session ended · The General Assembly adjourned on October 2, 2026. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died.

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.

Cost

No fiscal note

House subcommittee · named January 20, 2026

Rep. David Sieck (R) · david.sieck@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Daniel Gosa (D) · daniel.gosa@legis.iowa.gov
Rep. Devon Wood (R) · devon.wood@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 3 for, 9 against

For: Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen; Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers; 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; Soo Line Railroad Company d/b/a Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC); Union Pacific Railroad

In plain words

February 20, 2025Filed in the House and sent to the Transportation committee
January 20, 2026House subcommittee named: Sieck, Gosa and Wood
January 28, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it