Bill > S00174

This bill enacts the "Commuter Rail Employee Rights Protection Act" which requires the Metro-North Commuter Railroad and Long Island Rail Road companies (and their successors) to waive any sovereign immunity defenses in state or federal legal claims. The bill specifically mandates that these railroad companies be subject to several key federal railroad laws, including the Railway Labor Act (which governs labor relations), the Federal Employers Liability Act (which provides legal protections for railroad workers injured on the job), the Railroad Retirement Act (which establishes retirement benefits), the Railroad Retirement Tax Act, Federal Railroad Safety Laws, whistleblower protections, anti-discrimination laws, and the Interstate Commerce Act. The waiver of sovereign immunity is retroactive, meaning it applies to lawsuits that are currently pending in New York state or federal courts. The bill covers railroad operations in multiple New York counties, including Suffolk, Nassau, Queens, Kings, New York, Bronx, Westchester, and others, and is designed to ensure these railroad companies are held accountable and their employees are protected under federal labor and safety regulations.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S174