House Bill 311

Actions | Amendments
Last Action 03/11/26: posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 12 2026
Title AN ACT relating to railroad crossings.
Bill Documents Introduced
Fiscal Impact Statements Local Mandate
Additional Fiscal Impact Statements Exist
Bill Request Number 1563
Sponsors J. Calloway, N. Tate, S. Baker, T. Bojanowski, S. Bratcher, B. Chester-Burton, J. Decker, S. Doan, A. Donworth, M. Dossett, R. Duvall, D. Fister, C. Fugate, P. Griffee, D. Grossberg, D. Hale, T. Hampton, M. Hart, K. Holloway, K. Jackson, C. Massaroni, A. Moore, S. Riley, R. Roarx, T. Roberts, S. Sharp, S. Stalker, P. Stevenson, J. Watkins, W. Williams, L. Willner
Summary of Original Version Create a new section of KRS Chapter 277 to require each railroad company to destroy or remove obstructive vegetation at intersections with public roads or highways; direct the Transportation Cabinet or local government to remove obstructive vegetation if the railroad company fails to do so after receiving written notice from the cabinet or local government; establish procedures for reimbursement by the railroad company for the vegetation removal.
Index Headings of Original Version State Agencies - Transportation Cabinet, vegetation obstruction, intersection of highway and rail grade crossings
Traffic Safety - Vegetation sight obstruction, removal, intersection of highway and rail grade crossings
Transportation - Vegetation sight obstruction, removal, intersection of highway and rail crossings
Local Mandate - Transportation Cabinet, vegetation obstruction, intersection of highway and rail grade crossings
Jump to Proposed Amendments House Committee Substitute 1 with Fiscal Impact Statements

Actions

Top | Amendments
01/12/26
  • introduced in House
  • to Committee on Committees (H)
01/20/26
  • to Transportation (H)
03/10/26
  • reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute (1)
03/11/26
  • 2nd reading, to Rules
  • posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Thursday, March 12 2026

Proposed Amendments

Top | Actions
Amendment House Committee Substitute 1
Fiscal Impact Statement Local Mandate to House Committee Substitute 1
Summary Retain original provisions, except change the distance of required vegetation removal from 600 feet to 250 feet in each direction upon a right-of-way at each public rail-highway grade crossing that is more than 30 inches and less than 20 feet above the height of the crossing, within 20 feet of the nearest rail, and within 200 feet of the centerline of the roadway; provide that a railroad company shall not be authorized or required to enter private property to remove obstructive vegetation; allow a railroad company to petition the Transportation Cabinet to waive or modify obstructive vegetation removal requirements when the terrain or other conditions make removed impossible, impractical, or unnecessary by written notice and allow the cabinet to deny or modify the written notice within 60 days; if a railroad fails to remove obstructive vegetation and receives written notice that vegetation must be removed within 30 days; provide that the cabinet or local government shall coordinate a mutually agreeable time to access the railroad right-of-way to remove obstructive vegetation pursuant to the railroad's safety processes and that a railroad company shall be and remain in compliance with obstructive vegetation removal by January 1, 2029.
Index Headings Local Mandate - Vegetation sight obstruction, removal, intersection of highway and rail grade crossings
Traffic Safety - Vegetation sight obstruction, removal, intersection of highway and rail grade crossings
Transportation - Vegetation sight obstruction, removal, intersection of highway and rail crossings

Last updated: 3/11/2026 6:52 PM (EDT)