HOWIE Act
Bill journey · stage 2 of 5
Under committee review
What it doesSummary 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.
What just happenedMar 20, 2026
Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
Who’s behind it
- Introduced in HouseMar 19, 2026