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

SF 1: Relating to comparative fault of railway corporations

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 relates to comparative fault of railway corporations. The bill provides that when a train is 7,000 feet or longer and the jury determines that the length of the train contributed to the accident, the railway corporation shall not be eligible to seek a reduction in damages under the theory of comparative fault. Under current law, any damages for fault resulting in injury are diminished in proportion to the amount of fault attributable to the claimant. Such comparative fault considerations do not apply to the bill.

Sponsors

Sen. Tom Shipley (R)

Cost

No fiscal note

Senate subcommittee · named January 14, 2025

  • Sen. Tom Shipley (R) · tom.shipley@legis.iowa.gov
  • Sen. Mike Pike (R) · mike.pike@legis.iowa.gov
  • Sen. Cindy Winckler (D) · cindy.winckler@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 1 for, 8 against

For: SMART-Transportation Division

Against: BNSF Railway Co.; Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad; Burlington Junction Railway; CN Rail; Davenport Industrial Railroad; Iowa Interstate Railroad; Soo Line Railroad Company d/b/a Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC); Union Pacific Railroad

In plain words

  1. January 13, 2025Filed in the Senate and sent to the Transportation committee
  2. January 14, 2025Senate subcommittee named: Shipley, Pike and Winckler
  3. January 22, 2025Subcommittee recommended against it

From public records at legis.iowa.gov, compiled by Funnel (iowafunnel.com), an independent, nonpartisan site. Current as of Monday, November 9, 2026. https://iowafunnel.com/bills/91/SF1