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HR 928 119th Congress House Transportation and Public Works

Safe Freight Act of 2025

Introduced: August 1, 2025 Introduced by: Deluzio, Christopher R. Democratic · Pennsylvania See on congress.gov
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 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 4, 2025
Introduced in House
Feb 4, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Feb 4, 2025
Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.
What's happening now February 4, 2025

Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Lobbying activity 29

Registered lobbyists who named this bill in their disclosure filings. Source: federal Lobbying Disclosure Act filings.

See all 29 filings →
 Cosponsors 11
All 11 Democratic 5 Republican 6
R
Bresnahan, Robert P.
Pennsylvania · Mar 4, 2026
 D
Soto, Darren
Florida · Mar 4, 2026
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Nov 19, 2025
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Nov 19, 2025
 R
Lawler, Michael
New York · Aug 1, 2025
 D
Suozzi, Thomas R.
New York · Aug 1, 2025
 D
Elfreth, Sarah
Maryland · Mar 14, 2025
 R
Fitzpatrick, Brian K.
Pennsylvania · Mar 14, 2025
 D
Garamendi, John
California · Feb 4, 2025
 R
LaLota, Nick
New York · Feb 4, 2025
 R
Rulli, Michael A.
Ohio · Feb 4, 2025
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 928: Railway Safety Act of 2025. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-928/
MLA
"H.R. 928: Railway Safety Act of 2025." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-928/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 928, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-928/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 928: Railway Safety Act of 2025](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-928/)
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