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IA SF24
IA SF24A bill for an act relating to the closure of railway crossings for repairs or upgrades, and providing penalties.(See SF 384.)
summary
Introduced
01/14/2025
01/14/2025
In Committee
01/14/2025
01/14/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
Current law prohibits a railroad corporation from closing a railway crossing for more than 30 days for the purpose of repairing or upgrading the crossing, and a corporation that violates Code section 327G.25 is subject to a $100 penalty. This bill prohibits a railroad corporation from closing a railway crossing for more than 20 consecutive days for the purpose of repairing or upgrading the crossing, and a corporation is subject to a penalty of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000 for each day a crossing is closed after the number of days allowed in the bill. The bill requires a railroad corporation to provide notice about an upcoming crossing closure to the county board of supervisors or city council that has jurisdiction over the crossing, prior to closing the crossing. A county board of supervisors or city council is authorized to extend the closure of a crossing for an additional 20 consecutive days if a railroad corporation provides notice.
AI Summary
This bill modifies existing Iowa law regarding railway crossing closures by reducing the maximum closure period from 30 to 20 consecutive days for repair or upgrade purposes. The bill now requires railroad corporations to provide advance notice to the county board of supervisors or city council with jurisdiction over the crossing, including details about the work to be completed, expected completion date, and closure/reopening procedures. If a railroad corporation needs additional time, they can request a one-time 20-day extension by providing notice no later than the 17th day after the initial closure, with the local governing body having the authority to approve the extension. The penalties for violating the closure restrictions have been significantly increased from a flat $100 fine to a graduated penalty ranging from $500 to $5,000 per day beyond the allowed closure period. These changes aim to provide more transparency and accountability for railroad corporations when conducting crossing repairs or upgrades, while giving local authorities more oversight and control over infrastructure work that impacts public transportation routes.
Committee Categories
Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 384. S.J. 334. (on 02/20/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF24 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/SF24.html |
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