# 119-hr-7662: Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2026 119-hr-7662, Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22] (R-TX); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-04). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7662 - As of: 2026-06-04 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-hr-7662 - Congress: 119 - Title: Railroad Safety Enhancement Act of 2026 - Status: in_committee - Introduced: 2026-02-24 - Sponsor: Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22] (R-TX) - Cosponsors: 2 - Policy area: Transportation and Public Works - Touches household money: yes - Last recorded action: 2026-06-04 ## Summary **Tougher safety rules for high‑hazard trains**. The bill limits speeds for large hazardous‑materials trains, tightens tank‑car standards and inspections, forces real‑time shipment data sharing, and creates new grants and an emergency reimbursement program for hazmat incidents. ## Cosponsors (2) - Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (D-MA), 2026-02-24T00:00:00.000Z - Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17] (D-PA), 2026-03-12T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - Fixing blocked grade crossings: benefit, high. If enacted, the Secretary would hire the National Academy of Sciences to study the 20 most frequently blocked highway-rail grade crossings in at least 10 States and report within 2 years. Railroads must set up toll-free numbers to report blocked crossings and give the numbers to DOT for public post… - Real-time train data for responders: benefit, medium. If enacted, Class I railroads would have to create accurate, real-time electronic train consist data and sign secure agreements with fusion centers so first responders can view train contents and contacts within one year. Railroads could not withhold consist information from responders during hazar… - Higher penalties for rail safety: cost, high. This bill would raise civil penalty ranges for violations of rail safety laws. General violations could carry penalties from $5,000 up to $1,000,000 per violation, with higher maximums (up to $5,000,000) for violations causing death or major harm. Penalties for small businesses would also increase… - Stronger inspections, audits, and training: mixed, high. This bill would bar railroads from limiting the time employees need to complete required inspections and would force Class I railroads to keep designated inspectors at chosen locations within 120 days. The Secretary must strengthen inspector and locomotive inspection training and add a daily locomo… - Safer tank cars and retrofits: mixed, high. If enacted, the bill would ban most older tank cars from hauling certain Class 3 flammable liquids starting December 31, 2027 unless the Secretary delays the deadline to December 31, 2028 after a Comptroller General report (due within 18 months). Tank cars would have to meet DOT-117, DOT-117P, or D… - High-hazard train limits and review: mixed, medium. The bill would define "high-hazard train" by numeric thresholds and generally cap train speeds at 50 mph. High-hazard flammable trains with 20 or more loaded tank cars would be limited to 40 mph inside designated high-threat urban areas unless all applicable tank cars meet DOT-117 standards. The Se… - New defect detectors and grants: mixed, medium. This bill would require the Secretary to make national rules for defect detection systems and start rulemaking within 1 year and finalize rules within 2 years. Covered carriers would file risk-based detector network plans and must implement them within 3 years. The FRA could award grants for defect… - Fast emergency reimbursements for responders: mixed, medium. This bill would create an Emergency Response Assistance program and a Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Fund set-aside to pay eligible public responders quickly after a "significant" hazmat incident. The Secretary could make up to $10 million immediately available from the set-aside when a… - Repeal of two statutory sections: mixed, low. The bill would remove sections 21302 and 21303 from chapter 213 of title 49 when enacted. The change deletes those statutory provisions but does not specify replacement programs or new spending in the text. The practical effects would depend on how agencies adjust rules after the repeal. ## Related bills - 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025 - 119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act - 119-hr-3277: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act - 119-hr-2192: Air America Act of 2025 - 119-hr-3946: FIGHT Act of 2025 - 119-hr-2853: Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025 ## Sources - [119-hr-7662 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7662) ## Related - [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151) - [119-hr-1262: Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1262) - [119-hr-3277: Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3277) - [119-hr-2192: Air America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2192) - [119-hr-3946: FIGHT Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3946) - [119-hr-2853: Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2853) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7662 (as of 2026-06-04).