Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Nehls
Introduced
Summary
Reduce derailments and speed emergency response for trains carrying hazardous materials. The bill tightens speeds and tank car rules, forces real-time data sharing with first responders, and boosts grants and emergency reimbursements to communities.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
More money to remove rail crossings
If enacted, the bill would authorize $1.5 billion per year for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029 for grants to remove dangerous railroad crossings. States would need to submit a summary of their most dangerous grade crossings to the FRA to be eligible for those funds.
Stronger tank car rules and research
If enacted, the bill would bar certain older tank cars carrying specified flammable liquids after December 31, 2027 unless they meet DOT-117 family specs. The Secretary could delay that deadline to December 31, 2028 if a GAO review shows insufficient manufacturing or retrofit capacity or major interstate commerce impacts. The bill would also authorize $5,000,000 for PHMSA to develop stronger tank cars, valves, and related safety features.
Stronger worker safety and inspections
If enacted, the bill would require breath or body-fluid testing for equipment inspectors and add protections so employers cannot limit the time needed to complete safety inspections. The Secretary would update rules so watchmen and lookouts get warning equipment within one year and would require Class I railroads and Amtrak to join a confidential close-call reporting system within 60 days for two years. The Secretary would also start brake-inspection audits within 60 days and require an extra daily inspection for Class I locomotives within one year. Pre-departure inspection rules would be revised within 120 days so designated inspectors and locations are identified and available.
Faster emergency pay and local grants
If enacted, the bill would create an Emergency Response Assistance program within one year to help communities after a significant hazardous materials incident. A incident is "significant" if eligible responder costs are at least $15,000 or property/environment damage is over $45,000. The Secretary could make up to $10,000,000 immediately available per declared incident from a set-aside, and the set-aside would be funded from section 5123 collections until it reaches $50,000,000 (and resume when it falls below $20,000,000). States receiving grants would generally have to pass at least 70% of funds to eligible local entities within 180 days, and HMEP grants would cover 90% of State costs (100% for Tribes) and allow PPE, exercises, and gap analyses as eligible uses.
Real-time hazmat data for responders
If enacted, Class I railroads would have to provide accurate, real-time electronic train consist information to first responders and fusion centers within one year after a required rule. The bill would also require weekly commodity flow reports to State and Tribal emergency response commissions and would forbid withholding train consist data from first responders. The FRA would run an AskRail connectivity pilot with $25 million a year for FY2026–2029 to improve first-responder connectivity and would require certain State DOTs that get covered federal assistance to notify first responders about the AskRail app within 180 days. The bill would also require accident reports to include trailing tonnage and require the FRA to publish incident summaries by length and weight.
New fees and higher civil fines
If enacted, the Secretary would set an annual hazardous materials registration fee by regulation within set ranges: small businesses $250–$500 and other registrants $500–$5,000. The bill would also raise civil penalty ranges for rail safety violations to $5,000–$1,000,000 generally (with small-business limits of $1,000–$200,000) and would allow maximums up to $5,000,000 ($500,000 for small businesses) where violations cause death or severe harm. The Secretary could double fines for repeated violations or deliberate indifference.
New rules and grants for detectors
If enacted, the Secretary would start rulemaking within one year and issue a final rule within two years to require covered carriers to submit defect detector network plans and to implement those plans within three years after the final rule. The FRA could award grants to research and develop defect detectors and derailment prevention, with $22,000,000 authorized and available until expended. The FRA would also establish formula grants to help eligible commuter railroads install defect detection equipment based on the number of detectors required.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Nehls
TX • R
Cosponsors
Moulton
MA • D
Sponsored 2/24/2026
Deluzio
PA • D
Sponsored 3/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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