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Alaska2026Passed Legislature

HB136

Rules for Using Railroad Easements in Alaska

Last scannedSep 12, 2026, 4:46 AM

In one sentence

This bill sets a standard width for railroad utility corridors, limits when railroads can sell their land interests, and restricts fees charged to property owners using easement areas.

What it does

  • Sets the minimum width of railroad utility corridors at least 100 feet on both sides of the track centerline, unless the company does not own enough land for that size.
  • Allows railroads to lease or grant permits for parts of their land for transportation, communication, and commercial uses if these activities do not block other parallel uses.
  • Prohibits railroad companies from selling all rights to their utility corridor land except under specific conditions listed in existing laws.
  • Stops railroad companies from charging fees or requiring permits when property owners use their own land within an easement area, provided the owner does not unreasonably interfere with train operations.
  • Allows railroad companies to require a permit and charge a fee that covers only costs for building and maintaining new railroad crossings on private property.

Who it affects

  • Railroad corporations operating in Alaska
  • Owners of real property subject to railroad easements

Limits and unknowns

  • The provided text does not include an effective date for this law.
  • The bill status indicates it was referred to rules but does not confirm if the governor has signed it into final law.
  • The specific definition of what counts as 'unreasonably interfere' is not detailed in this excerpt.

Plain language

Terms to know

Easement
A legal right for a specific party, such as a railroad company, to use land owned by someone else.
Utility Corridor
The strip of land along the tracks set aside for rail operations and other authorized uses like power lines or roads.
Revenue-neutral fee
A charge collected only to cover the actual costs of a service, such as building a crossing, without making extra profit.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

RAILROAD UTILITY CORRIDORS An Act relating to use of railroad easements.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (H) REFERRED TO RULES1972
  2. (H) FN2: ZERO(CED)1972
  3. (H) NR: EISCHEID, MINA, GRAY1972
  4. (H) DP: VANCE, COSTELLO, KOPP1972
  5. (H) JUD RPT CS(TRA) 3DP 3NR1972
  6. (H) Moved CSHB 136(TRA) Out of CommitteeText
  7. (H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120Text
  8. (H) Heard & HeldText
  9. (H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120Text
  10. (H) Minutes (HJUD)Min
  11. (H) Scheduled but Not Heard -- Delayed to 15 minutes Following Session --Text
  12. (H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120Text
  13. (H) Minutes (HJUD)Min
  14. (H) Heard & HeldText
  15. (H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120Text
  16. (H) -- Invited & Public Testimony -- -- MEETING CANCELED --Text
  17. (H) JUDICIARY at 01:00 PM GRUENBERG 120Text
  18. (H) FN1: ZERO(CED)1067
  19. (H) AM: TILTON, EISCHEID, CARRICK1067
  20. (H) NR: MINA1067