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House backs new rail-inspection program, then re-refers bill to Appropriations for funding
Summary
House Bill 103, to create four new railroad inspector positions and a Montana rail inspection special revenue account funded by a railcar tax allocation, passed second reading and was later re-referred to the Appropriations Committee for budget consideration.
Representative Zalnikoff introduced House Bill 103 to establish a Montana rail inspection program, create a special revenue account, provide a statutory appropriation and add reporting and rulemaking authority for the Public Service Commission (PSC). The bill would fund four new railroad inspectors and related staff using a portion of an existing railcar tax.
Sponsor testimony cited a 2015 performance audit recommending more railroad inspectors and noted that derailments in 2024 underlined the need for increased inspection capacity: “In 02/2024, there were 7 train derailments across the state of Montana. These positions are really, really needed,” the sponsor said on the floor.
Representative Felder supported the measure on the floor describing the bill’s funding mechanism (8% of the railcar tax) and the difference between inspecting cars and inspecting the rails; Felder said the proposal will allow inspection of the rails, which he and PSC staff said had been under-resourced.
The House recorded a favorable second-reading vote (the clerk reported 98 aye and 2 no) and later, during motions, Majority Leader Fitzpatrick moved to re-refer House Bill 103 to the Appropriations Committee for funding consideration. The motion to re-refer was adopted without objection.
The bill’s future implementation will require an appropriation or statutory offset to create the inspector positions and the PSC will need to develop reporting and rulemaking to operate the inspection program if funding is approved.
