Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
The bill directs the Secretary of Transportation, through the Federal Railroad Administration, to issue regulations updating 49 C.F.R. §225.9 so rail carriers must report train accidents causing covered damage — including fires alongside tracks — whenever the carrier has a reasonable suspicion their action caused the damage.
Progressives emphasize transparency and environmental safety benefits.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is an administrative directive to the Department of Transportation (via the FRA) to promulgate regulations updating 49 C.F.R. §225.9 to require reporting when a railroad reasonably suspects its action caused damage (including fires adjacent to track).
The bill directs the Secretary of Transportation, through the Federal Railroad Administration, to issue regulations updating 49 C.F.R. §225.9 so rail carriers must report train accidents causing covered damage — including fires alongside tracks — whenever the carrier has a reasonable suspicion their action caused the damage.
Modest, technically-focused safety rulemaking bill has a reasonable path but may be slowed by procedural hurdles and industry concerns.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is an administrative directive to the Department of Transportation (via the FRA) to promulgate regulations updating 49 C.F.R. §225.9 to require reporting when a railroad reasonably suspects its action caused damage (including fires adjacent to track). It identifies the agency and regulatory target but leaves key definitional, procedural, fiscal, and oversight details to the agency rulemaking.
Progressives emphasize transparency and environmental safety benefits.
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Progressives emphasize transparency and environmental safety benefits.
Generally supportive: sees the bill as closing a reporting gap and improving transparency, environmental protection, and public safety.
Would want strong implementation, enforcement, and use of reported data to prevent future incidents.
Cautiously favorable if implemented with clear definitions and cost controls.
Views it as a modest regulatory tweak to improve safety, but wants evidence of measurable benefits and minimal undue burden on operations.
Likely opposed or skeptical: views the bill as an additional federal reporting mandate that creates subjective standards and administrative burdens on rail operators.
Concerned about overreach and unintended regulatory consequences.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Modest, technically-focused safety rulemaking bill has a reasonable path but may be slowed by procedural hurdles and industry concerns.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Progressives emphasize transparency and environmental safety benefits.
Modest, technically-focused safety rulemaking bill has a reasonable path but may be slowed by procedural hurdles and industry concerns.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is an administrative directive to the Department of Transportation (via the FRA) to promulgate regulations updating 49 C.F.R. §225.9 to require reporting when a railr…
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