H.R. 8012 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the House, sent to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Mar 19, 2026
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryExpands railroad accident reporting requirements
The Federal Railroad Administration oversees safety rules for trains across the country. This bill would require railroads to report accidents and damage more broadly, including cases where the railroad suspects its own actions caused the problem. It also expands what counts as a reportable accident to include fires that start alongside railroad tracks.
How it affects you
If you live near railroad tracks, this could mean better information about accidents and safety incidents in your area, since railroads would have to report more incidents. For railroad companies, it means stricter reporting obligations when they suspect their operations caused damage or fires.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Mar 19, 2026)
Helping Oversee and Ward off Infrastructure Emergencies Act or the HOWIE Act
This bill directs the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to revise current railroad accident reporting requirements to include additional causes of damage. Specifically, FRA must require a railroad to report a train accident that results in damage if the railroad has a reasonable suspicion that an action carried out by the railroad caused the damage. An accident includes any incident that causes a fire, including a brush fire, alongside a railroad track.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
2nd SessionH. R. 8012
A BILL
HOWIE Act
Sponsor: Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY-17) · Introduced Mar 19, 2026 · Transportation and Public Works · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Mar 20, 2026: “Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.”