SB 143 Virginia Senate · 2024 Regular Session

Railroad safety; use of train, locomotive, etc., for movement of freight, minimum train crew.

Summary
Railroad safety; civil penalties. Addsvarious requirements for railroad companies, including (i) prohibiting placing stationary cars or trains on its track within 1,500 feeton both sides of any crossing of a railroad with a highway; (ii)prohibiting trains that exceed 8,500 feet in length on any mainlineor branch line; (iii) requiring a crew of at least two qualifiedindividuals on all trains, locomotives, or light engines used inconnection with moving freight; (iv) requiring warning signs or devices for certain track obstructions that could endanger a railroad companyemployee; and (v) requiring walkways adjacent to yard tracks whereemployees regularly perform switching service. The bill requiresthat fines for a violation of the train-length requirement be depositedin the Shortline Railway Preservation and Development Fund for railwaysafety projects.
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2024
Committee Review
Feb 2024
Senate Passage
Apr 2024
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2024
Vetoed
Mar 2024
Introduced Jan 5, 2024 Vetoed Mar 8, 2024
Floor votes · Senate Jan 31, 2024 · House of Delegates Feb 20, 2024

How they voted

40–0
Passed
Total votes 40
Jan 31, 2024
D Democratic21
21 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
33
Key actions
13
Committee
5
Apr 17, 2024
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Mar 9, 2024
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Mar 8, 2024
Vetoed
Vetoed by Governor
executive
Feb 25, 2024
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Feb 22, 2024
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Feb 22, 2024
Upper · Passed
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB143ER)
upper
Feb 20, 2024
Lower · Passed
VOTE: Passage (51-Y 48-N)
lower
Feb 20, 2024
Lower · Passed
Passed House (51-Y 48-N)
lower
Feb 15, 2024
Lower · Passed
Reported from Labor and Commerce (10-Y 9-N)
lower
Feb 13, 2024
Committee
Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
lower
Feb 5, 2024
Upper · Passed
Read third time and passed Senate (21-Y 19-N)
upper
Feb 2, 2024
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day
upper
Jan 31, 2024
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (40-0)
senate
Jan 29, 2024
Upper · Passed
Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (9-Y 6-N)
upper
Jan 29, 2024
Upper · Passed
Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
upper
Jan 5, 2024
Committee
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
upper
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors