H.R. 928 · 119th Congress
Railway Safety Act of 2025
Key: what the circles and colors mean
Each circle is a bill. The ring fills as it moves through Congress:
Under the number: the Yea · Nay count of its final (or latest) recorded vote. On a member's page, the small badge is how that member voted: Y Yea / Aye, N Nay / No, P Present, – Not voting.
Gold and violet are only for Yea and Nay; they never mean a party. A member's party is the letter on their photo.
Not yet voted on. This bill is still a proposal: it hasn't reached a floor vote, and its text can change in committee or on the floor before any vote.
D
DeluzioSponsor11 cosponsors · 5 D, 6 R
D
Garamendi
NL
R
LaLota
MR
R
Rulli
SE
D
Elfreth
BF
R
Fitzpatrick
ML
R
Lawler
TS
D
Suozzi
EN
D
Norton
CS
R
Smith
RB
R
Bresnahan
DS
D
Soto3 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill addresses safety requirements for rail carriers and trains transporting hazardous materials.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in House · Feb 4, 2025
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.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Railway Safety Act of 2025
Latest action (Feb 4, 2025): Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works · Origin: House · Introduced: Feb 4, 2025
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.