H.R. 8012 — Introduced in House

I 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8012 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 19, 2026Mr. Lawler introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure A BILL To require the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations requiring a rail carrier to report certain damage if such carrier has a reasonable suspicion that an action carried out by the carrier caused such damage. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Helping Oversee and Ward off Infrastructure Emergencies Act or the HOWIE Act. 2. Standard for reporting certain damage relating to railroad operations The Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, shall issue such regulations as are necessary to update section 225.9 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to require a railroad to report a train accident resulting in damage described under such section, including any incident that causes a fire (including a brush fire) alongside a railroad track, if such railroad has a reasonable suspicion that an action carried out by the railroad caused such damage.