The proposed bill, known as the Railroad Safety Act, aims to enhance railroad safety regulations in Nebraska by amending section 75-109.01 of the Revised Statutes Cumulative Supplement, 2024. The bill establishes a framework for the safe operation of railroads, emphasizing the importance of maintaining infrastructure, utilizing technology for defect detection, and ensuring the proper training of emergency responders. Key provisions include restrictions on the length of trains carrying hazardous substances, requirements for operational wayside detector systems, and protocols for responding to defect alerts. Additionally, the bill mandates that railroads provide training to local fire departments and outlines penalties for non-compliance with safety regulations.

The bill also modifies the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission to include oversight of railroad safety under the newly established Railroad Safety Act. It repeals previous provisions related to blocked crossings and includes a provision that protects plaintiffs in damage recovery cases from having their compensation reduced due to their comparative fault if the train involved exceeded a specified length. The act is set to become operative on July 1, 2026, and includes a repeal of the original section 75-109.01 and section 17-225 of the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 75-109.01