NY State Senate Bill 2025-S5516

Senate Bill S5516

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Requires railroad corporations to conduct a comprehensive safety inspection when a freight train is parked in a train yard prior to traveling on tracks within the state

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Feb 24, 2025	referred to transportation

co-Sponsors

2025-S5516 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Railroad Law
Laws Affected:: Add §72-a, Rail L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S6923

2025-S5516 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires railroad corporations to conduct a comprehensive safety inspection when a freight train is parked in a train yard prior to traveling on tracks within the state including, but not be limited to, a review of tracks, safety equipment, including brakes, and train cars.

2025-S5516 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S5516

SPONSOR: HINCHEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the railroad law, in relation to requiring railroad
corporations to conduct a comprehensive safety inspection when a freight
train is parked in a train yard prior to traveling on tracks within the
state

 
PURPOSE:

Requires railroad corporations to conduct a comprehensive safety
inspection when a freight train is parked in a train yard prior to trav-
eling on tracks within the state.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Amends the railroad law by adding a new section 72-a, to
require that every railroad corporation which operates any freight train
within the state shall conduct a comprehensive safety inspection when a
freight train is parked in a train yard prior to traveling on tracks

within the state. Such safety inspection shall include, but not be
limited to, a review of tracks, safety equipment, including brakes, and
train cars. Section one establishes that every railroad corporation
which operates any freight train within the state shall have a minimum
of two safety inspectors on either side of a freight train as it leaves
a rail yard to observe for safety issues.

Section 2. Effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The East Palestine train derailment has highlighted the importance of
implementing stricter regulations and oversight of our rail systems.
This legislation requires every railroad corporation which operates a
freight train within the state to conduct a comprehensive safety
inspection when a freight train is parked in a train yard prior to trav-
eling on tracks and requires corporations to have a minimum of two safe-
ty inspectors on either side of a train as it leaves a rail yard to
observe for safety issues. The State has a responsibility to protect
residents and localities from a potentially life-threatening incident.
The enactment of this legislation will play an essential role in
protecting the public as well as rail employees within the State.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2024: S.6923 - Referred to Transportation.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
On the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective imme-
diately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation
necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.

2025-S5516 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5516
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 24, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  HINCHEY,  ADDABBO,  MAY,  WEBB  -- read twice and
   ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on
   Transportation
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  railroad law, in relation to requiring railroad
   corporations to conduct  a  comprehensive  safety  inspection  when  a
   freight  train  is parked in a train yard prior to traveling on tracks
   within the state
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The railroad law is amended by adding a new section 72-a to
 read as follows:
   § 72-A. FREIGHT TRAIN INSPECTIONS. 1. EVERY RAILROAD CORPORATION WHICH
 OPERATES  ANY  FREIGHT TRAIN WITHIN THE STATE SHALL CONDUCT A COMPREHEN-
 SIVE SAFETY INSPECTION WHEN A FREIGHT TRAIN IS PARKED IN  A  TRAIN  YARD
 PRIOR  TO  TRAVELING  ON TRACKS WITHIN THE STATE. SUCH SAFETY INSPECTION
 SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, A REVIEW OF TRACKS, WHEELS, SAFETY
 EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING BRAKES AND BEARINGS, AND TRAIN CARS.   THE  DEPART-
 MENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHALL COMPARE SUCH SAFETY INSPECTION RESULTS WITH
 THE  INSPECTION  THE RAILROAD CORPORATION CONDUCTED PRIOR TO ORIGINATING
 THE ENTIRE PLANNED TRIP.
   2. EVERY RAILROAD CORPORATION WHICH OPERATES ANY FREIGHT TRAIN  WITHIN
 THE  STATE  SHALL HAVE A MINIMUM OF TWO SAFETY INSPECTORS ON EITHER SIDE
 OF A FREIGHT TRAIN AS IT LEAVES  A  RAIL  YARD  TO  OBSERVE  FOR  SAFETY
 ISSUES.
   3.  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL PROMULGATE ALL RULES AND REGULATIONS NECES-
 SARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS SECTION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day  after  it  shall
 have  become  a  law;  provided,  further, that this act shall be deemed
 repealed if any federal agency determines in writing that this act would
 render New York state ineligible for the receipt of federal funds or any
 court of competent jurisdiction finally determines that this  act  would
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03019-01-5

 S. 5516                             2
 
 render  New York state out of compliance with federal law or regulation;
 and provided, further, that the  commissioner  of  transportation  shall
 notify  the  legislative bill drafting commission upon the occurrence of
 such determination in order that the commission may maintain an accurate
 and  timely  effective data base of the official text of the laws of the
 state of New York in  furtherance  of  effectuating  the  provisions  of
 section  44  of the legislative law and section 70-b of the public offi-
 cers law.  Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or  repeal
 of  any  rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act
 on its effective date are authorized to be  made  and  completed  on  or
 before such effective date.

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Senate Bill S5516

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Sponsored By

Michelle Hinchey