TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING RAILROADS; TO CREATE A LIMITATION ON THE LENGTH OF A TRAIN OPERATING IN THIS STATE; TO CREATE A RELATED PENALTY; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.

House Bill 2005 (HB 2005) proposed to amend Arkansas law by establishing a maximum length for trains operating within the state. The bill would have prohibited railroad corporations and individuals from running trains longer than 8,500 feet on main or branch lines. Violations would have incurred civil penalties ranging from $500 to $1,000 for each foot exceeding the limit, per day. Additionally, gross negligence or a pattern of violations causing harm could have resulted in a one-time penalty up to $250,000, with collected funds deposited into the Arkansas Department of Transportation Fund.