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H.R. 928: Railway Safety Act of 2025

119th Congress · introduced 2025-02-04 · Transportation and Public Works · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

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What does this mean?

Official title

Railway Safety Act of 2025

Plain summary

Railway Safety Act of 2025 This bill addresses safety requirements for rail carriers and trains transporting hazardous materials. Specifically, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must issue safety regulations for trains carrying hazardous materials to require that rail carriers or shippers (1) provide state emergency response commissioners with advance notice and information about the hazardous materials; (2) reduce blocked rail crossings; and (3) comply with certain requirements regarding train length and weight specifications, track standards, speed restrictions, and response plans. DOT must also establish requirements for wayside defect detectors. These are used by railway systems alongside the tracks to detect defects and failures (e.g., wheel bearing failures). Current federal regulations do not require their use, but federal guidance does address their placement and use. Under the bill, DOT must issue regulations establishing requirements for the installation, repair, testing, maintenance, and operation of wayside defect detectors for each rail carrier operating a train carrying hazardous materials. The bill also increases the maximum fines DOT may impose on rail carriers for violating safety regulations; requires DOT to update rail car inspection regulations and audit the federal inspection programs; establishes a statutory requirement for freight trains to have at least two crew members, with exceptions; phases out certain railroad tank cars by May 1, 2027; expands training for local first responders; imposes a new fee on certain rail carriers; and authorizes grants to improve railway safety.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Railway Safety Act of 2025

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17] · 11 cosponsors

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Words on this page, explained (2)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Statute
A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong119-hr928 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills