Bills › 91st General Assembly
Requiring the installation and maintenance of train defect detectors on railway branch lines, and providing penalties
Sponsored by Sen. Tom Shipley (R)
Topics:Transportation
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 Railroad companies must install and maintain special equipment called defect detectors along their branch lines to check for problems. If a company fails to have these detectors in the right places or if a detector fails to work, they must pay fines. These rules apply to any railroad company that operates trains on these specific lines.1
Read the official explanation
trains operate. If the branch line is longer than miles, one defect detector is required at least every miles. Railroad companies that operate trains on the same railway may share such costs and are jointly and severally liable in any suit arising from the installation and maintenance of all defect detectors, or lack thereof, on or along the railway branch line.5 for every mile of the branch line, or every mile that is more than miles away from a defect detector, as applicable. A railroad company is also subject to a schedule “five” penalty for each time a train crosses or passes by a defect detector that fails to notify the train crew of a detected defect. A schedule “five” penalty is a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000 for a first violation, and not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000 for a subsequent violation.
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
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Tried before
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 512 Requiring the installation and maintenance of train defect detectors on railway branch lin…90th General Assembly · Approved by committee · very similarCleared committee
Matched by wording or an identical title.