SB 855

Railroads - Safety Requirements (Maryland Railway Safety Act of 2025)

Sponsor: Arthur Ellis (District 28)Committee: FinanceSubject: Private Sector Labor and IndustryStatus: Hearing 3/05 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing requirements and prohibitions related to the operation of railroads in the State, including provisions related to the size of the crew, blocking of railroad and highway grade crossings, the length of trains operating on a main or branch line, wayside detectors, and investigations by railroad labor union representatives; and requiring the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to establish and maintain a reporting system regarding the transportation of hazardous materials and waste by rail in the State.

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Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 15FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 5UnfavorableINFO 1Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	McMillan, Michael	Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1300	Written (PDF)
FAV	Skinner, Thomas	Baltimore Fire Officers	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Edwards, Donna	Maryland State & District of Columbia AFL-CIO	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ascher, Jasonlobbyist	Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Price, Verna	Montgomery County Government	Written (PDF)
FAV	McNair, Lee	Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry	Position only
FAV	Cahill, Tom	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Ellis, Arthur	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Garris, Brittany	Individual	Oral
FAV	Martz, Randy	Individual	Oral
FAV	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
FAV	Meyerovich, Mark	Individual	Position only
FAV	Pendleton, Davidlobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Ellis, Senator Ellislegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Allen, Hannahlobbyist	Maryland Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Jones, Lisalobbyist	Individual	Oral
UNF	a, a	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	a, a	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	a, a	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Kinnally, Kevin	Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)	Written (PDF)
INFO	Mickler, Matt	Maryland Department of Transportation	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1300FAV 1

Baltimore Fire OfficersFAV 1

Maryland Association of Counties (MACo)FWA 1

Maryland Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

Maryland Department of TransportationINFO 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland State & District of Columbia AFL-CIOFAV 1

Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades AssociationFAV 1

Montgomery County GovernmentFAV 1

Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice MinistryFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVAscher, JasonMid-Atlantic Pipe Trades AssociationRegistered for: Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades Association; UA Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 486

FAVPendleton, DavidRegistered for: SMART Transportation Division

UNFAllen, HannahMaryland Chamber of CommerceRegistered for: Maryland Chamber of Commerce

UNFJones, LisaRegistered for: Aligned Data Centers; American Academy of Anesthesiology Assistants, Inc.; Associated Black Charities; Associated Builders & Contractors; Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) on behalf of National Strategies, LLC; Atmosphere Data Centers LLC…