Imposes safety requirements on railroads operating trains in the state.

This bill specifies that:
-The length of a train must not exceed 8,500 feet;
-With certain exceptions, railroads must operate, maintain,
and report the location of wayside detector systems.
-A train may not obstruct a public crossing for longer than
10 minutes unless the train is continuously moving or is
prevented from moving by circumstances beyond the
railroad's control;
-Any crew member of a train may report to the crew
member's designated union representative a safety
violation, injury, or death that occurred during the
operation of a train. After receiving a report of a violation,
a designated union representative may enter a railroad's
place of operation to investigate the report during
reasonable hours and after notifying the railroad.
-The public utilities commission (PUC) may impose fines
for the violation of these safety requirements or for denying
a union representative's access to the railroad's place of
operation.

Requires the PUC to develop guidelines for determining, imposing, and appealing fines.

Requires railroads that transport hazardous material in
Colorado to maintain insurance coverage that is adequate to cover costs and liabilities resulting from accidents. The PUC is required to promulgate rules establishing minimum coverage amounts.

Effective 7/1/2024

01/10/2024 Introduced in House.
02/28/2024 House Committee on Transportation, Housing and Local Government passed as amended and referred to House Committee on Appropriations.
03/15/2024 House Committee on Appropriations referred amended to House Committee of the Whole.
03/19/2024 Second reading in House. Laid Over Daily.
04/03/2024 Second reading in House on Special Order. Passed with amendments.
04/04/2024 Third reading in House. Laid Over Daily.
04/05/2024 Third reading. Passed House.
04/08/2024 Introduced In Senate. Assigned to Senate Committee on Transportation & Energy.
04/26/2024 Senate Committee on Transportation & Energy Referred amended bill to Senate Committee on Appropriations.
05/02/2024 Senate Committee on Appropriations refer red amended bill to Senate Committee of the Whole.
05/06/2024 Passed second reading in Senate with amendments.
05/07/2024 Third reading in Senate. Passed with amendments.
05/08/2024 House concurred with Senate amendments.
05/09/2024 Signed by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House.
05/09/2024 Sent to Governor.
05/10/2024 Signed by Governor.