Freight rail laws by state

171 bills on freight rail in 38 jurisdictions, 24 of them enacted in 2025 and 2026. The laws come first, with what each requires, then the bills that moved most recently.

  • 24 laws enacted in 2025 and 2026, in 17 states. Most: Washington (3), California (2), Colorado (2).
  • 171 bills in 38 jurisdictions, 14 of them in Congress. Latest action 18 September 2026.

Updated 2 November 2026LawsRecent billsBy state

Enacted in 2025 and 2026

24 laws, by state. Laws enacted before 2025 are not listed.

Arizona

  • Enacted

    SB 1074: railroad grade crossing; on-track equipment

    Drivers of vehicles must stop 15 to 50 feet from railroad tracks when approaching grade crossings if warning signals, gates, flagmen, trains, or other on-track equipment are present or approaching. Operators of commercial motor vehicles must not enter crossings without sufficient space and undercarriage clearance. Persons moving heavy equipment must notify the railroad and stop before crossing.

Arkansas

  • Enacted

    SB 397: To protect confidential personal information of rail employees in reports involving railroad fatalities.

    Public record custodians must maintain public records involving railroad fatalities in a manner that ensures confidentiality of personal information of railroad crew involved in the fatality, except as provided in subsection (b).

California

  • Enacted

    SB 667: Railroads: safety: report.

    A railroad corporation shall install and operate a network of wayside detector systems on or adjacent to any track used by a freight train, with each system including a hot wheel bearing detector and spaced no farther than 10 miles for class I carriers, 25 miles for class II carriers, or 35 miles for class III carriers. Freight trains operating between non-compliant wayside detector systems must not travel faster than 10 miles per hour.

    Takes effect 1 January 2027

  • Enacted

    SB 1008: California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: railroad grade crossing closure.

    The closure of a railroad grade crossing by order of the Public Utilities Commission when the commission finds the crossing presents a threat to public safety is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. State agencies must file a notice with the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. Local agencies must file a notice with the State Clearinghouse and the county clerk in each county where the project is located.

Colorado

  • Enacted

    SB 25-162: Railroad Safety Requirements

    Class I railroads, railroads operating lines used by Class I railroads as of July 1, 2024, and passenger rail systems must pay an annual fee beginning July 1, 2027, totaling no more than two million nine hundred thousand dollars yearly to cover the office of rail safety's costs. Railroads must notify the state watch center within thirty minutes of discovering train emergencies.

  • Enacted

    HB 25-1110: Railroad Crossing Maintenance Costs

    The Commission shall adopt rules requiring railroads, railroad corporations, rail fixed guideways, transit agencies, or track owners to share equally with non-local road authorities the total costs to maintain existing crossings including materials, labor, traffic control, railroad flagging, and permits. If the road authority is a local government, the railroad entity pays for maintenance between railroad tie ends; the local government pays for maintenance outside the tie ends.

Kentucky

  • Enacted

    HB 311: AN ACT relating to railroad crossings.

    Each railroad company shall destroy or remove plants, trees, brush, or other obstructive vegetation upon its right-of-way at railroad intersections with public roads or highways for a distance of six hundred feet or a reasonably safe distance as determined by the Transportation Cabinet.

Louisiana

  • Enacted

    HB 345: RAILROADS: Provides with respect to the Rail Infrastructure Improvement Program (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

    Adds rail infrastructure at ports as an eligible project category under the Class II and III Rail Infrastructure Improvement Program in Louisiana.

Maryland

  • Enacted

    HB 862: Railroads - Required Crew for Movement of Freight

    A railroad train used in connection with the movement of railroad freight may not be operated in the State unless it has a crew of at least two individuals. This requirement applies to freight trains sharing the same rail corridor as high-speed passenger or commuter trains, but excludes hostler service and utility employees in yard service.

Montana

  • Enacted

    SB 23: Increase thresholds for railroad accident reporting requirements

    A railroad company operating any line of railroad within Montana shall promptly report any accident to the commission. The report must include the time and place of the accident, the names of any persons killed or injured, and the value of any property destroyed. The commission may adopt rules to set reporting thresholds.

Nebraska

  • Enacted

    LB 398: Adopt updates to federal law relating to motor vehicles and motor carriers, provide for Arbor Day license plates and certain trailer license plates, change fees and fee distribution provisions for license plates and records requests related to motor vehicles and motor vehicle operators, change provisions relating to commercial driver’s licenses and CLP-commercial learner’s permits, and provide duties for successors in interest of certain railroad property

    The Department of Motor Vehicles must issue permanent trailer license plates for commercial fertilizer trailers and Arbor Day license plates. The department must increase fees for records requests and change fee distributions for license plates. Successors in interest of railroad property must perform duties as specified in the act.

New Mexico

  • Enacted

    HM 41: Assess blocked train crossing times

    Requests the Department of Transportation to assess blocked train crossing times across New Mexico, work with rail providers and unions to propose operational changes to limit crossing times, and report findings to appropriate interim committees by September 1, 2025.

Oklahoma

  • Enacted

    SB 341: Railroad Revitalization Act; providing process for sale of certain lease-purchase properties. Effective date. Emergency.

    The Department of Transportation must initiate a request for proposal process with consultation by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services before selling any railroad asset owned by the state. Interested parties must have no less than one hundred twenty days to respond. The Department of Transportation, in consultation with other state secretaries, must evaluate proposals and present a recommendation to the Transportation Commission within ninety days of the proposal closing date.

    Took effect 1 July 2025

Rhode Island

  • Enacted

    HB 7608: An act relating to public utilities and carriers -- operation of railroads generally

    No train or light engine used in connection with the movement of freight may be operated unless it has a crew consisting of at least two persons. This requirement does not apply to hostler service or utility employees.

    Took effect 1 October 2026

  • Enacted

    SB 2913: An act relating to public utilities and carriers -- operation of railroads generally

Texas

  • Enacted

    SB 2366: Relating to a grant program to fund certain short line railroad projects.

    The department shall establish and administer a grant program to award grants to districts or railroad companies that own or operate short line railroads to fund projects that replace tracks or bridges, improve rail capacity, or restore railways. The commission must approve each grant and may not approve unless at least 10 percent of total project costs come from non-state sources.

  • Enacted

    SB 1555: Relating to a grant program to fund certain railroad grade separation projects.

    The department shall establish and administer a grant program to award grants to political subdivisions for railroad grade separation projects. The commission must approve each grant only if at least 10 percent of total project costs come from non-state sources. Political subdivisions receiving grants must designate the department to manage contracting and supervision of planning and construction.

Utah

  • Enacted

    SB 253: Railroad and Transportation Amendments

    Modifies Department of Agriculture duties by removing railroad livestock damage administration, amends rail ombudsman duties to facilitate dispute resolution on safety, crossings, fencing, and livestock injury, and repeals the Office of Rail Safety and related railroad provisions.

    Took effect 7 May 2025

Virginia

  • Enacted

    HB 25: Railroad safety; minimum train crew used in movement of freight.

    Railroad companies must not use or allow the use of any train, locomotive, or light engine in connection with the movement of freight unless such train, locomotive, or light engine has a crew consisting of at least two qualified individuals. This requirement does not apply to trains, locomotives, or light engines used for hostler or utility service.

    Took effect 1 July 2026

  • Enacted

    SB 191: Railroad safety; minimum train crew used in movement of freight.

    Railroad companies must not use or allow the use of any train, locomotive, or light engine in connection with the movement of freight unless such train, locomotive, or light engine has a crew consisting of at least two qualified individuals. This requirement does not apply to hostler or utility service.

    Took effect 1 July 2026

Washington

  • Enacted

    SB 5820: Concerning the responsibility of certain counties to include freight rail dependent use overlay as part of the transportation element of their comprehensive plan.

    Counties bordering both the Cascade mountains and another country with populations under fifty thousand, and cities in such counties, may adopt development regulations allowing agriculture, forest, and mineral resource lands adjacent to short line railroads to be developed for freight rail dependent uses. Such counties and cities may include this development in their transportation element.

  • Enacted

    HB 2179: Concerning membership in the public employees' retirement system for port workers who participate in a federal railroad retirement plan, a union-sponsored defined benefit retirement plan, or another employer-funded private pension plan. (REVISED FOR ENGROSSED: Concerning membership in the public employees' retirement system for port workers who participate in a federal railroad retirement plan.)

    Persons employed by a port district who participate in a federal railroad retirement plan are excluded from membership in the public employees' retirement system for periods of service covered by that plan. Port districts may not require such employees to participate in the public employees' retirement system for those periods.

  • Enacted

    SB 6132: Authorizing a narrow modification to indebtedness limits for select inland port districts to ensure continued eligibility for federal funding for rail, power, and other critical public infrastructure improvements.

    Port districts meeting specified conditions may contract indebtedness or borrow money and issue general obligation bonds not exceeding an additional 0.25 percent of taxable property value without voter authorization. Conditions require an increment area under chapter 39.114 RCW, estimated taxable assessed value between $6,000,000,000 and $7,000,000,000, increment area value less than $150,000,000, and use of indebtedness for public improvements under chapter 39.114 RCW.

West Virginia

  • Enacted

    SB 592: WV Short Line Railroad Modernization Act

    Eligible taxpayers must submit certificates or applications to the Tax Commissioner to claim tax credits for qualified short line railroad maintenance or new rail infrastructure expenditures. Credits equal 50 percent of qualified expenditures, subject to specified caps. Credits may be carried forward five years and transferred by written agreement.

Bills that moved most recently

The 25 open freight rail bills with the latest action. The Transportation and Logistics Tracker follows all 171.

  • Massachusetts S 2082: An Act relative to the taxation of rolling stock for trucking and railcars

    What it would do: Defines rolling stock as trucks, tractors, trailers, and railcars used by common carriers to transport goods in interstate commerce, and exempts sales and storage or use of rolling stock from Massachusetts sales and use taxes.

    In committee

  • Michigan SB 959: Transportation: railroads; wayside detector systems; provide for. Amends 1993 PA 354 (MCL 462.101 - 462.451) by adding secs. 280, 281, 282, 283, 284 & 285.

    Passed committee

  • Michigan SB 958: Transportation: railroads; minimum freight train operating crew size; require. Amends 1993 PA 354 (MCL 462.101 - 462.451) by adding sec. 352.

    What it would do: Requires railroads to operate freight trains with a crew of not fewer than 2 individuals, except for locomotives in hostler service, helper service, or when federal law already requires a 2-person crew.

    Passed committee

  • New York S 5713: Requires railroad corporations to inform the division of homeland security and emergency services, department of environmental conservation, and department of transportation about certain freight rail trains

    What it would do: Requires railroad corporations operating freight trains in New York to inform the division of homeland security and emergency services, department of environmental conservation, and department of transportation about trains transporting hazardous materials prior to traveling on state tracks, and to promptly update hazardous waste manifests with information required under federal law.

    Passed chamber

  • Louisiana HR 317: TRANSPORTATION DEPT: Urges and requests that the Department of Transportation and Development to convene a diagnostic review team to evaluate the proposed reactivation of the Norfolk Southern Railway originating at the Alabo Street Wharf

    What it would do: Urges the Department of Transportation and Development to convene a diagnostic review team to study potential hazards from increasing Norfolk Southern Railway activity at the Alabo Street Wharf and submit findings to the House Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works by January 1, 2027.

    Passed both

  • Louisiana SR 149: RAILROADS: Directs the Department of Transportation and Development to study and review the proposed reactivation of the Norfolk Southern Railway originating at the Alabo Street Wharf.

    What it would do: Directs the Department of Transportation and Development to review and study potential hazards from increasing Norfolk Southern Railway activity at the Alabo Street Wharf and submit a written report with findings and prevention recommendations to the Senate Committee on Transportation, Highways and Public Works by January 1, 2027.

    Passed both

  • Illinois SB 3635: Motor fuel-grade crossing

    What it would do: Amends the Motor Fuel Tax Law to increase the monthly transfer to the Grade Crossing Protection Fund by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for fiscal years beginning July 1, 2026 and thereafter, with a floor that the amount cannot decrease from the prior year.

    In committee

  • Illinois HB 4703: Railroad mod credit

    What it would do: Creates an income tax credit for Class II or Class III railroads and rail infrastructure owners making qualified expenditures, equal to 50% of expenses, capped at $5,000 per mile for railroads and $2,000,000 per location for new infrastructure, for taxable years 2027-2036.

    In committee

  • Missouri HB 2246: Requires drivers to stop at railroad crossings for any on-track equipment in addition to trains

    What it would do: Requires drivers to stop at railroad crossings when warned by signal devices, crossing gates, flagmen, or when trains or any on-track equipment are visible and in hazardous proximity, stopping between 15 and 50 feet from the nearest rail.

    In committee

  • Missouri HB 2385: Modifies provisions relating to railroad safety

    What it would do: Prohibits trains from blocking highway crossings for more than fifteen consecutive minutes except when moving or stopped due to emergency; requires freight trains to operate with at least two crew members; and protects crew members' personally identifying information from public disclosure in railroad incident records.

    In committee

  • Missouri HB 2941: Authorizes a tax credit for certain railroad expenses

    What it would do: Authorizes a nonrefundable state tax credit for eligible taxpayers against Missouri income tax for qualified railroad expenditures or new rail infrastructure expenditures, with annual caps of $4.5 million and $10 million respectively, beginning in tax year 2027.

    In committee

  • Missouri HB 3349: Requires a two-person crew minimum for railroad trains or light engines used in connection with the removal of freight

    What it would do: Requires railroad trains or light engines used to move freight to be operated by at least two qualified crew members, with exceptions for helper services, hostler services, and loading/unloading at speeds not exceeding ten miles per hour. Establishes fines up to $10,000 for violations.

    In committee

  • Missouri HB 3350: Prohibits railroads from operating trains exceeding eight thousand five hundred feet in total length on any main track or branch line

    What it would do: Prohibits railroads from operating trains exceeding eight thousand five hundred feet in total length on any main track or branch line. Authorizes the department of transportation to adopt rules for implementation, enforcement, measurement procedures, exemptions, and penalties.

    In committee

  • California SB 1287: Personal Income Tax Law: Corporation Tax Law: credits: shortline railroad expenditures and railroad infrastructure.

    What it would do: Creates tax credits for qualified taxpayers operating Class II or Class III railroads or owning rail infrastructure: 50% of qualified shortline railroad expenditures (up to $5,000 per mile owned/leased) for tax years 2027-2031, and 50% of qualified new rail infrastructure expenditures (up to $1,000,000 per project) for tax years 2028-2032, with aggregate annual caps of $7,000,000 and $10,000,000 respectively.

    Passed committee

  • Missouri SB 1743: Modifies provisions relating to reports of certain railroad incidents

    What it would do: Requires redaction of personally identifying information of train crew members and engineers from publicly released records of railroad incidents involving motor vehicles, with unredacted copies accessible only to employers, courts, law enforcement, and DOT for official duties.

    In committee

  • Missouri SB 1744: Modifies provisions relating to train length restrictions

    What it would do: Prohibits railroads from operating trains exceeding 8,500 feet in total length on any main track or branch line in Missouri. Authorizes the Department of Transportation to adopt rules for implementation, enforcement, and exemptions.

    In committee

  • New York S 5516: Requires railroad corporations to conduct a comprehensive safety inspection when a freight train is parked in a train yard prior to traveling on tracks within the state

    What it would do: Requires railroad corporations operating freight trains in New York to conduct comprehensive safety inspections of tracks, wheels, brakes, bearings, and cars before trains leave rail yards, and to have minimum two qualified car inspectors on each side as trains depart.

    Passed chamber

  • Congress H.R. 8468: Protecting American Railroad Workers’ Jobs Act of 2026

    What it would do: Requires railroad carriers operating freight trains across the southern border into the United States to stop at the border for crew interchange and safety testing, then ensures only U.S. nationals or lawfully authorized aliens with primary U.S. reporting points operate those trains.

    In committee

  • Tennessee HB 1641: Transportation, Dept. of - As introduced, extends for one year the annual report the department must submit to committees of the general assembly regarding blocked highway-rail grade crossings data collected by the federal railroad administration. - Amends TCA Title 55 and Title 65.

    What it would do: Extends the Department of Transportation's annual reporting requirement on blocked highway-rail grade crossings data from 2022-2026 to 2022-2027, and delays the reporting deadline from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2028.

    In committee

  • Pennsylvania HB 1191: An Act amending Title 66 (Public Utilities) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in railroads, providing for prohibition on blocking of crossings, for limitation on length of freight or work trains, for authorization to monitor safety practices and operations by collective bargaining representatives, for safe staffing levels for trains or light engines, for wayside detector systems, for study of transportation of hazardous materials or waste, for reporting system for transportation of hazardous materials or waste and for hazard impact assessment; and imposing penalties.

    What it would do: Amends Pennsylvania railroad regulations to prohibit blocking highway crossings for more than five minutes, limit freight trains to 8,500 feet, require minimum two-person crews, mandate wayside detector systems on Class IV+ tracks, and establish hazardous materials reporting and study requirements.

    Passed chamber

  • Illinois HB 2832: Short line railroad act

    What it would do: Creates an income tax credit for Class II and Class III railroads and rail siding owners equal to 50% of qualified railroad reconstruction expenditures, capped at $3,500 per mile annually, with a $5,000,000 annual limit, available for taxable years 2026-2035.

    In committee

  • New Mexico HB 298: Rail infrastructure tax credit

    What it would do: Creates a rail infrastructure corporate income tax credit for railroads equal to 50% of qualified reconstruction, replacement, or new infrastructure expenditures, capped at $5,000 per mile of track or $1,000,000 per new customer project, with a $6,000,000 annual aggregate limit through 2035.

    Passed committee

  • New Mexico HB 325: Create railyard crossing safety fund

    What it would do: Creates the railroad crossing safety program and fund as a nonreverting state treasury fund to finance projects improving safety at road and railroad intersections, and appropriates one million dollars from the general fund for fiscal year 2027 and subsequent years.

    Passed committee

  • Missouri SB 1104: Specifies that drivers shall stop at railroad crossings for "any on-track equipment" in addition to trains

    What it would do: Requires drivers to stop at railroad crossings when warned by signal devices, crossing gates, flagmen, or when trains or any on-track equipment are visible and in hazardous proximity, and prohibits driving through, around, or under crossing gates while closed or opening.

    In committee

  • Minnesota HF 4309: Railroad crossing safety improvements in Hennepin County, Medina, Independence, and Loretto funding provided; bonds issued; and money appropriated.

    What it would do: Appropriates $390,000 from bond proceeds to the commissioner of transportation for grants to Hennepin County and the cities of Medina, Independence, and Loretto for railroad crossing safety improvements and street reconstruction at Town Line Road. Authorizes the state to issue bonds up to $390,000 to fund this appropriation.

    In committee

Freight rail laws, state by state

Questions

Which states have freight rail laws?

States that enacted freight rail laws in 2025 and 2026: Washington (3), California (2), Colorado (2), Rhode Island (2), Texas (2), Virginia (2), Arizona (1), Arkansas (1), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (1), Maryland (1), Montana (1), Nebraska (1), New Mexico (1), Oklahoma (1), Utah (1) and West Virginia (1). Laws enacted before 2025 are not listed here.

Which states have the most freight rail bills?

Missouri (14), Congress (14), Oklahoma (13), Texas (13) and New York (11). In all, 171 bills in 38 jurisdictions, the latest action on 18 September 2026.

What do freight rail bills cover?

Train crew size and length, blocked grade crossings, wayside detectors, railroad safety and infrastructure, short line rail. Each enacted law above has a line on what it requires.

Is this legal advice?

No. Which bills count as freight rail bills, and the line on what each law requires or each bill would do, are drafted by software and not reviewed by an attorney. Every bill links to the legislature’s own record: read the text before relying on it. The list covers bills from the 2025 and 2026 sessions.

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