DENVER — A railroad safety bill in the Colorado legislature came close to a stall. The measure that would increase safety on railroads was introduced the first day of the session, and about three months later it passed in the state House of Representatives.
"The word I would use to describe rail safety in 2024 is critical," said Carl Smith, a legislative director for the local chapter of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART). "We want [rails] to be safer, and this commonsense legislation does that."
Smith is in support of HB24-1030. He hopes it passes before the end of the legislative session. The bill would create new railroad safety requirements, including limiting the max length a train can operate, reducing the amount of time a train can block a crossing and adding track sensors to better detect problems with a train.
In 2023, a train derailment in Ohio spilled hazardous chemicals and caught fire. It forced thousands to leave their homes and caused health concerns to linger.
Smith said the goal with HB24-1030 would be to keep incidents like that derailment from happening.
"We want to mitigate as much risk as possible for the safety of all of us," Smith explained. But not all agree with the union representative.
Republican state Rep. Lisa Frizell fears that if this bill passes, there may be federal preemption, which is when a state and federal law conflict. Colorado Republican leaders feel if these regulations go into place, it'll drive rail companies away.
"I find it egregious given that information that we should supplant federal regulation, that we should make Colorado an undesirable place to run freight through. It's too important," Frizell said.
Smith thinks there is room for this bill to pass without federal preemption. He hopes that's the direction it's going in.
"Colorado can lead and establish safety in our communities and set the background for the whole nation," he said. "We’re not going away we will continue to advocate for rail safety in the state and at the nationwide level."
Next reached out to Democratic state Rep. Javier Mabrey, the sponsor of the bill, to find out a few more details, like who will pay for these railroad sensors and how would limiting rail cars at the state line work but have yet to hear back.
Mabrey has said federal preemption has come up, but he says they have worked with the Colorado Attorney General's office and experts who were involved in the Federal Railroad Safety Act to try and avoid that issue.
More from Jaleesa Irizarry:
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Next with Kyle Clark