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On Tuesday, U.S. Senators Roger Marshall and Jon Husted introduced the bipartisan Railway Safety Act of 2026, a bill aimed at improving rail safety using real-time data.

The legislation would enhance emergency response by alerting states when hazardous materials move through their communities and by strengthening railroad emergency plans. It also ensures firefighters are reimbursed for overtime, equipment, and health assessments after responding to major derailments, and expands Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness grants so fire departments can purchase protective gear.

The bill requires advanced defect detection technology to stop trains when safety issues arise, reduces the spacing of hotbox detectors from 25 miles to 15, and expands the list of hazardous materials with stricter safety standards, including speed limits, braking requirements, and route risk analysis for substances like vinyl chloride.

Other provisions include proper maintenance of railcars and requiring two crew members on trains to improve safety during emergencies. Full text of the bill is available online.