Railroad Responsibility Act of 2025

This bill lets states set and enforce time limits on how long a train can block a road at a rail crossing. It says federal transportation law will not override (or “preempt”) these state rules, so states can make their own limits and enforce them. The term “State” here includes the District of Columbia. This aims to reduce long wait times for drivers, school buses, and emergency vehicles stuck at blocked crossings .

Key points:

• Who is affected: Railroad companies, drivers, pedestrians, local communities, and emergency responders near rail crossings.
• What changes: States can pass and enforce rules that limit how long a train may block a crossing, and federal law won’t cancel those rules; “State” also covers D.C..
• When: The changes take effect if this bill becomes law; it does not set a nationwide time limit—states would decide their own .