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H3624 • 2025

An Act establishing time limits for idling trains

An Act establishing time limits for idling trains

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
John Barrett, III
Last action
2026-03-09
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H5133
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act establishing time limits for idling trains

An Act establishing time limits for idling trains By Representative Barrett of North Adams, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act establishing time limits for idling trains By Representative Barrett of North Adams, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 3624) of John Barrett, III and Colleen M.
  • Garry for legislation to establish idling time limits for trains.
  • Transportation.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-09 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H5133

  2. 2025-09-25 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 10/07/2025 from 11:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-1

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Transportation

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act establishing time limits for idling trains
By Representative Barrett of North Adams, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3624) of John Barrett, III and Colleen M. Garry for legislation to establish idling time limits for trains. Transportation.

Current Bill Text

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Bill H.3624

Chapter 21A of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

Section 28. No person shall cause, suffer, allow or permit a locomotive train engine to idle longer than 30 minutes. The department of environmental protection shall investigate all reported cases of train idling in excess of 30 minutes.

During its investigation, the department shall conduct emission tests to determine the level of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxides, and sulfur dioxide being released from the train.

Emission levels shall not exceed those of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority trains as previously determined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

If it is determined that these emission levels have been exceeded, the violator shall be fined no less than $5,000 for each violation.

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