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SB191 • 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.

Enacted

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date of the bill is unknown from the provided information.

Railroad Safety: Minimum Train Crew for Freight

This act requires railroad companies to use a crew of at least two qualified individuals on all trains carrying freight, except those used for hostler or utility service.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires railroad companies to use a crew of at least two qualified individuals on all trains, locomotives, or light engines used in connection with moving freight, except when used for hostler or utility work.
  • Tells the State Corporation Commission to include in its annual report the number of probable violations of federal regulations related to railroad safety investigated and reported to the Federal Railroad Administration.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Railroad companies that move freight
  • The State Corporation Commission

Terms To Know

hostler or utility service
Special jobs like moving trains in the yard or doing maintenance work.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what happens if a railroad company does not follow this rule.
  • The bill only talks about freight trains, not passenger trains.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 549 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 549 (effective 7/1/2026)

  3. 2026-04-13 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0549)

  4. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

  5. 2026-03-10 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  6. 2026-03-09 House

    Signed by Speaker

  7. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Signed by President

  8. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Enrolled

  9. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB191ER)

  10. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB191)

  11. 2026-03-03 House

    Read third time

  12. 2026-03-03 House

    Passed House (64-Y 34-N 0-A)

  13. 2026-03-02 House

    Read second time

  14. 2026-02-26 Labor and Commerce

    Reported from Labor and Commerce (15-Y 6-N)

  15. 2026-02-24 House

    Placed on Calendar

  16. 2026-02-24 House

    Read first time

  17. 2026-02-24 Labor and Commerce

    Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

  18. 2026-02-17 Commerce and Labor

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB191)

  19. 2026-02-17 Senate

    Read third time and passed Senate (20-Y 20-N 0-A, Chair: Yea)

  20. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Read second time

  21. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

  22. 2026-02-16 Commerce and Labor

    Commerce and Labor Substitute agreed to

  23. 2026-02-16 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

  24. 2026-02-13 Senate

    Rules suspended

  25. 2026-02-13 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  26. 2026-02-13 Commerce and Labor

    Committee substitute printed 26107794D-S1

  27. 2026-02-13 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (35-Y 0-N 0-A)

  28. 2026-02-12 Commerce and Labor

    Failed to report from Commerce and Labor with substitute

  29. 2026-02-12 Commerce and Labor

    Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (8-Y 7-N)

  30. 2026-02-12 Senate

    Senate committee offered

  31. 2026-01-29 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB191)

  32. 2026-01-15 Transportation

    Rereferred from Transportation to Commerce and Labor (14-Y 0-N)

  33. 2026-01-09 Senate

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101782D

  34. 2026-01-09 Transportation

    Referred to Committee on Transportation

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 HB 25.

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.