Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to the operation of railroad trains by a crew of two or more persons, and providing penalties
Sponsored by Sen. Tom Shipley (R)
Topics:Transportation
Same legislation: HF 494
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 14, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 15, 2025
- Stopped: Senate committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Large railroad companies moving passengers or freight must have at least two trained employees on every train. If a company breaks this rule, they will have to pay fines that increase each time they are caught. These penalties apply to repeat offenses committed within a three-year period.1
Read the official explanation
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. than $1,053,709,560. A class II carrier is a carrier earning revenue between $47,299,851 and $1,053,709,560. The bill provides that a railroad company found guilty of violating this requirement is subject to a penalty of not less than $500 and not more than $1,000 for a first offense, not less than $500 and not more than $5,000 for a second offense, and not less than $5,000 and not more than $10,000 for a third or subsequent offense. For purposes of determining whether a conviction is a first, second, or subsequent offense, the bill provides that only offenses committed within the three-year period prior to the most recent offense shall be considered.
Senate subcommittee
Named January 15, 2025. On January 29, 2025 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Family tree
91st General Assembly
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- SF 492 Relating to the operation of railroad trains by a crew of two or more persons, and providi…90th General Assembly · Approved by committee · same titleCleared committee
- SF 243 Relating to the operation of railroad trains by a crew of two or more persons, and providi…90th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 492 · nearly identicalCleared committee
Matched by wording or an identical title.