HB 25 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Railroad safety; minimum train crew used in movement of freight.

Summary

Railroad safety; minimum train crew; movement of freight. Requires a crew of at least two qualified individuals on all trains, locomotives, or light engines used in connection with moving freight except in use for hostler or utility service. The bill requires the State Corporation Commission to include in an existing report the number of probable violations of federal regulations related to railroad safety investigated by the Commission's Division of Utility and Railroad Safety and reported to the Federal Railroad Administration for enforcement. This bill is identical to SB 191.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Dec 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Dec 22, 2025 Signed Apr 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled → Chaptered · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was formally adopted and assigned Chapter 548 in the Virginia Acts of Assembly. The approval date was updated to April 13, 2026, and the session year was updated to 2026. The substantive content of the new railroad safety section (56-425.1) remains unchanged.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability are unchanged; it now carries the final legal status of an enacted law.

TECHNICAL

Added the official chapter number (Chapter 548) to the enacted text.

Updated the session year designation from an unspecified or draft year to 2026.

TIMELINE

Updated the approval date from a generic 'Approved' status to the specific date of April 13, 2026.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 25, 2026 · House of Delegates Jan 28, 2026

How they voted

39–0

Passed

Total votes 39

Feb 25, 2026

D Democratic20

20 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

Key actions

Committee

Apr 13, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 548 (effective 7/1/2026)

executive

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB25ER)

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate with substitute (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Commerce and Labor with substitute (9-Y 6-N)

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time and passed House (65-Y 31-N 0-A)

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Labor and Commerce (16-Y 6-N)

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends reporting (7-Y 2-N)

lower

Jan 15, 2026

Committee

Assigned HCL sub: Subcommittee #3

lower

Dec 22, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce

lower

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors