Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to comparative fault of railway corporations
Sponsored by Sen. Tom Shipley (R)
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 13, 2025
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 14, 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 If a train is 7,000 feet or longer and its length helped cause an accident, the railroad company cannot ask to reduce the money they owe for injuries. Currently, companies can lower their payments based on how much fault the injured person had. This change would stop that reduction if the train's length was part of the problem.1
Read the official explanation
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.
Senate subcommittee
Named January 14, 2025. On January 22, 2025 it recommended indefinite postponement. [].
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