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HB0121 • 2026

Railroads

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 65-6-133, relative to the commissioning of railroad police officers.

Labor
Active

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

Sponsor
Lamberth, Johnson
Last action
2025-04-04
Official status
Effective date(s) 03/28/2025
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide details on requirements or qualifications for becoming a railroad police officer under this new law.

Railroad Police Officer Commissioning Act

This bill changes who can appoint railroad police officers in Tennessee from the governor to the commissioner of safety.

What This Bill Does

  • Updates Section 65-6-133(a) and (b) in Tennessee's laws by replacing 'governor' with 'commissioner of safety'.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Railroad companies that want to make their agents or employees into railroad police officers.
  • The commissioner of safety who will now handle these applications.

Terms To Know

Commissioner of Safety
A person in charge of overseeing safety matters for the state, including appointing railroad police officers.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how this change will affect current railroad police officers.
  • It is unclear if there are any specific requirements or qualifications mentioned for becoming a railroad police officer under this new law.

Bill History

  1. 2025-04-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Effective date(s) 03/28/2025

  2. 2025-04-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Pub. Ch. 85

  3. 2025-04-04 Tennessee General Assembly

    Comp. became Pub. Ch. 85

  4. 2025-03-28 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Governor.

  5. 2025-03-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    Transmitted to Governor for his action.

  6. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by Senate Speaker

  7. 2025-03-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Signed by H. Speaker

  8. 2025-03-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Enrolled; ready for sig. of H. Speaker.

  9. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed Senate, Ayes 30, Nays 0

  10. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Senate substituted House Bill for companion Senate Bill.

  11. 2025-03-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Companion House Bill substituted

  12. 2025-03-07 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Consent Calendar 2 for 3/10/2025

  13. 2025-03-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  14. 2025-02-27 Tennessee General Assembly

    Received from House, Passed on First Consideration

  15. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 3/5/2025

  16. 2025-02-26 Tennessee General Assembly

    Recommended for passage, voice vote, refer to Senate Calendar Committee

  17. 2025-02-25 Tennessee General Assembly

    Engrossed; ready for transmission to Sen.

  18. 2025-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed H., Ayes 93, Nays 0, PNV 2

  19. 2025-02-24 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  20. 2025-02-20 Tennessee General Assembly

    H. Placed on Consent Calendar for 2/24/2025

  21. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Calendar & Rules Committee for 2/20/2025

  22. 2025-02-19 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on Senate Transportation and Safety Committee calendar for 2/26/2025

  23. 2025-02-18 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass; ref to Calendar & Rules Committee

  24. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on cal. Transportation Committee for 2/18/2025

  25. 2025-02-12 Tennessee General Assembly

    Passed on Second Consideration, refer to Senate Transportation and Safety Committee

  26. 2025-02-11 Tennessee General Assembly

    Rec. for pass by s/c ref. to Transportation Committee

  27. 2025-02-10 Tennessee General Assembly

    Introduced, Passed on First Consideration

  28. 2025-02-06 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

  29. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Placed on s/c cal Transportation Subcommittee for 2/11/2025

  30. 2025-02-05 Tennessee General Assembly

    Sponsor(s) Added.

  31. 2025-02-03 Tennessee General Assembly

    Assigned to s/c Transportation Subcommittee

  32. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    Ref. to Transportation Committee

  33. 2025-01-15 Tennessee General Assembly

    P2C held on desk, pending appointment of Standing Committees

  34. 2025-01-14 Tennessee General Assembly

    Intro., P1C.

  35. 2025-01-13 Tennessee General Assembly

    Filed for introduction

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL 1298
By Johnson

HOUSE BILL 121
By Lamberth

HB0121
000185
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Section
65-6-133, relative to the commissioning of railroad
police officers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 65-6-133(a), is amended by deleting
the language "governor" and substituting instead the language "commissioner of safety".
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 65-6-133(b), is amended by deleting
the language "governor" wherever it appears and substituting instead the language
"commissioner".
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.