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Bills › 91st General Assembly

HF 494Died when the session ended · January 28, 2026

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

Sponsored by Rep. David Sieck (R)

Topics:Transportation

Same legislation: SF 38

Write your legislators about it

Also covers SF 38.

Official bill pageLobbyist declarationsOne-pager to print

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedJanuary 14, 2025
  2. Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 20, 2026
  3. Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
  4. Next: Passes the House
  5. Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
  6. Next: Passes the Senate
  7. Next: To the Governor
  8. 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 qualified employees working on their trains. If a company breaks this rule, they will have to pay fines that increase each time they violate the law. 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. The STB threshold for a class I carrier includes a carrier earning revenue greater 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.

Full bill text2

House subcommittee

Named January 20, 2026. On January 28, 2026 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

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§327F.33

How the Code works3

Lobbying

3 for · 9 against · 2 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Tried before

SF 492Cleared committee90th GASF 243Renumbered90th GA

91st General Assembly

SF 38Cleared committeeSenate companionHF 494Cleared committeeHouse companion

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 title
    Cleared 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 identical
    Cleared committee

Matched by wording or an identical title.