This bill amends section 75-401 of the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, which pertains to the powers and duties of the Public Service Commission regarding railroad safety. The bill clarifies that the commission will have jurisdiction over the service, facilities, and equipment of all railroad carriers in Nebraska, applicable to both the general public and those with business relations with the carriers. However, it explicitly states that the commission does not have jurisdiction over the relationships between railroad carriers and their employees or their bargaining agents, except as outlined in specific sections.

Additionally, the bill allows the commission to adopt federal railroad safety standards as outlined in 49 U.S.C. chapters 201 to 213 and 49 C.F.R. parts 200 to 299, as they existed on January 1, 2026. This adoption is for the limited purpose of conducting safety inspections and participating in federal railroad safety programs. The commission is authorized to conduct inspections and report potential violations of federal regulations to the Federal Railroad Administration for enforcement. The previous requirement for the commission to enforce specific railroad safety standards has been removed from the statute.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 75-401