LOCOMOTIVES Act
Summary
What This Bill Does
The LOCOMOTIVES Act amends Clean Air Act section 209(e)(1), the provision that restricts state standards for certain nonroad engines and vehicles. It clarifies the construction and farm equipment category and then adds locomotives or engines used in locomotives that are engaged in commerce, including all locomotives providing common carrier railroad transportation for compensation under title 49. The bill's legal effect is to block states from adopting or enforcing their own emission standards for existing commercial locomotives outside the federally allowed framework. That primarily affects state programs seeking locomotive emissions limits and railroads operating across state lines.
Who Benefits and How
Freight rail carriers benefit because they avoid a patchwork of state emissions standards for existing locomotives engaged in commerce. Passenger rail operators benefit if common carrier locomotives are subject to uniform federal treatment rather than state-by-state rules. Rail shippers benefit indirectly if carriers avoid compliance costs tied to different state locomotive standards. Locomotive engine manufacturers benefit from clearer federal preemption of state rules for existing commercial locomotive engines.
Who Bears the Burden and How
State air quality regulators lose authority to impose their own emissions standards on covered existing locomotives. California Air Resources Board staff face limits on state locomotive emissions programs. Environmental justice communities near rail corridors may bear higher pollution risk if state rules are blocked. EPA mobile-source staff remain responsible for the federal locomotive emissions framework.
Key Provisions
- Amends Clean Air Act section 209(e)(1) governing state standards for nonroad engines and vehicles.
- Adds locomotives and engines used in locomotives engaged in commerce to the preempted category.
- Covers common carrier railroad transportation for compensation under title 49.
- Limits state authority to regulate emissions from existing commercial locomotives.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Preempts state emission standards for existing locomotives and engines used in locomotives engaged in common carrier railroad commerce by adding those locomotives to Clean Air Act section 209(e)(1).
Key Policy Areas
Transportation, Rail, Air Quality
Primary Purpose
Preempts state emission standards for existing locomotives and engines used in locomotives engaged in common carrier railroad commerce by adding those locomotives to Clean Air Act section 209(e)(1).
Policy Domains
Resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Freight rail carriers
- Passenger rail operators
- Rail shippers
- Locomotive engine manufacturers
Identified Costs
- State air quality regulators
- California Air Resources Board staff
- Rail corridor communities
- EPA mobile-source staff
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeMr. Moolenaar (for himself, Mr. Obernolte, and Mr. Goldman of …
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Freight rail carriers, Passenger rail operators, Rail shippers
California Air Resources Board staff, EPA mobile-source staff, State air quality regulators
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology