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Bill > SF23
IA SF23
IA SF23A bill for an act relating to the payment of costs by railroad track owners and railroad corporations for certain railroad construction, maintenance, and other related projects.
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 requires the owner of a railroad track to place certain warning devices (Code section 327F.13 —— close-clearance warning devices; Code section 327G.15 —— signals and gate arms at railway and highway crossings at grade). Railroad corporations are required to, among other things, construct and maintain private farm crossings (Code section 327G.11); construct crossings that intersect highways at grade (Code section 327G.15); remove unused crossings that intersect highways (Code section 327G.24); and maintain certain improvements along the railroad track rights-of-way (Code section 327G.81). A railroad corporation is eligible to agree with the department of transportation (DOT) and the local government entity with jurisdiction over the relevant area about certain costs, and the DOT must assist with the project by paying a portion of the cost for the work, if moneys are available, from the highway railroad grade crossing surface repair fund. This bill requires the owner of a railroad track or a railroad corporation, as applicable, to bear the cost of the responsibilities detailed in the bill without assistance from the DOT or another governmental entity. The bill requires a railroad corporation that transfers a railroad right-of-way to a person who is not a railroad corporation to pay the costs associated with the related right-of-way improvements prior to the transfer, or on a schedule agreed to by the transferee. The bill strikes or repeals all provisions relating to the highway grade crossing safety fund and the highway railroad grade crossing surface repair fund. Any moneys remaining in the repealed funds are transferred to the road use tax fund.
AI Summary
This bill shifts the financial responsibility for various railroad-related infrastructure and maintenance costs entirely to railroad track owners and railroad corporations, eliminating previous state funding mechanisms. Specifically, the bill removes existing provisions that allowed the Department of Transportation (DOT) to reimburse or partially fund railroad crossing improvements, warning device installations, farm crossings, and maintenance projects. Railroad corporations will now be solely responsible for constructing and maintaining private farm crossings, installing warning devices, constructing highway crossings, removing unused crossings, and maintaining improvements along railroad rights-of-way. The bill also requires railroad corporations that transfer rights-of-way to non-railroad entities to cover all associated improvement costs prior to transfer, either immediately or on an agreed schedule. Additionally, the bill abolishes the highway grade crossing safety fund and the highway railroad grade crossing surface repair fund, transferring any remaining funds to the road use tax fund. This represents a significant change in how railroad infrastructure costs are allocated, effectively removing state financial support and placing the entire burden on railroad corporations.
Committee Categories
Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Subcommittee recommends amendment and passage. (on 01/27/2025)
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=SF23 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/SF23.html |
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