HB25 • 2026

Railroad safety; minimum train crew used in movement of freight.

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 7 of Chapter 13 of Title 56 a section numbered 56-425.1, relating to railroad safety; minimum train crew; movement of freight.

Energy

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Anthony
Last action: 2026-04-13
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on the consequences of non-compliance with the crew requirements.

Railroad Safety: Minimum Train Crew for Freight

This act requires railroad companies to use a train crew of at least two qualified individuals when moving freight, except for hostler or utility service, and adds reporting requirements about probable violations in the annual report.

What This Bill Does

Requires railroad companies to use a train crew of at least two qualified individuals when moving freight, except for trains used for hostler or utility service.
Adds a new section in the Virginia Code about minimum train crews for freight movement.
Includes in an existing annual report the number of probable violations related to railroad safety that are reported to federal authorities.

Who It Names or Affects

Railroad companies operating trains, locomotives, or light engines used in moving freight.
The State Corporation Commission which must include specific information about safety violations in its annual report.

Terms To Know

Hostler service: Moving trains within a yard for maintenance or storage purposes.
Utility service: Providing services like water, electricity, or gas to railroad equipment.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if a company fails to follow the crew requirement.
It is unclear how this new reporting will affect overall safety measures in railroads.

Bill History

2026-04-13 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 548 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-13 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 548 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-13 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0548)
2026-03-10 House
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
2026-03-10 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-06 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-06 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-06 House
Enrolled
2026-03-06 House
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB25ER)
2026-03-06 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB25)
2026-03-02 House
Senate substitute agreed to by House (66-Y 33-N 0-A)
2026-02-26 Senate
Read third time
2026-02-26 Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute
2026-02-26 Commerce and Labor
Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to
2026-02-26 Senate
Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)
2026-02-25 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-25 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-25 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-25 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-25 Commerce and Labor
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB25)
2026-02-24 Commerce and Labor
Committee substitute printed 26108315D-S1
2026-02-23 Commerce and Labor
Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
2026-01-29 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-01-29 Commerce and Labor
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
2026-01-28 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB25)
2026-01-28 House
Read third time and passed House (65-Y 31-N 0-A)
2026-01-27 House
Read second time and engrossed
2026-01-26 House
Read first time
2026-01-22 Labor and Commerce
Reported from Labor and Commerce (16-Y 6-N)
2026-01-20 Subcommittee #3
Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 2-N)
2026-01-15 Subcommittee #3
Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3
2025-12-22 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103133D
2025-12-22 Labor and Commerce
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

Official Summary Text

Railroad safety; minimum train crew; movement of freight.
Requires a crew of at least two qualified individuals on all trains, locomotives, or light engines used in connection with moving freight except in use for hostler or utility service. The bill requires the State Corporation Commission to include in an existing report the number of probable violations of federal regulations related to railroad safety investigated by the Commission's Division of Utility and Railroad Safety and reported to the Federal Railroad Administration for enforcement. This bill is identical to SB 191.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 7 of Chapter 13 of Title 56 a section numbered
56-425.1
, relating to railroad safety; minimum train crew; movement of freight.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 7 of Chapter 13 of Title 56 a section numbered
56-425.1
as follows:
§
56-425.1
. Minimum train crew; movement of freight.
A. No railroad company shall use or allow the use of any train, locomotive, or light engine in connection with the movement of freight unless such train, locomotive, or light engine has a crew consisting of at least two qualified individuals. No provision of this section shall apply to the use of a train, locomotive, or light engine for hostler or utility service.
B. The Commission shall include in its annual report to the Governor required by §
12.1-4
the number of probable violations of 49 C.F.R. § 218.123 investigated by the Commission's Division of Utility and Railroad Safety and reported to the Federal Railroad Administration for enforcement.