HOWIE Act

The HOWIE Act (Helping Oversee and Ward off Infrastructure Emergencies Act) would require the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations mandating that railroad carriers report certain damage if the carrier has a reasonable suspicion that an action carried out by the carrier caused such damage. This reporting requirement would apply to incidents including accidents that cause fires, such as brush fires alongside railroad tracks.

The bill aims to improve oversight of railroad operations and their potential impacts on infrastructure and public safety. By requiring railroads to report suspected damage they cause, the legislation would create greater transparency and accountability in railroad operations. If enacted, this would establish new federal regulations governing how railroads must document and report incidents related to their operations.

Currently, the bill has been introduced in the House and referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. As with most introduced bills, it faces an uncertain path forward in the legislative process.