The Senate passed a bill Monday morning that would expand state authority to acquire railroad rights-of-way and land for trail programs.
Senate Bill 196 would accomplish this by broadening the definition of railroad rights-of-way state transportation officials could acquire to develop and maintain rail trails to include rights-of-way, easements or other interests in land on which rail service has been abandoned, discontinued, temporarily suspended or railbanked under federal law. The legislation defines railbanking as holding an inactive railroad right-of-way intact for future railroad service.
In the bill, “abandoned” refers to a track being removed and “inactive” refers to a railway that is not being used but with a track still intact.
The legislation includes railroad companies among those parties not liable for any injury to people or property caused by an act of a person who goes on land the parties provide the public for non motorized recreational trail use unless any charge is made for that use.
The Senate is adjourned until tomorrow, Jan. 30, at 11 a.m.
Afternoon Meetings:
Transportation and Infrastructure at 1 p.m. in 451M
Banking and Insurance at 2 p.m. in 451M
Ag and Natural Resources at 2 p.m. in 208W
Finance at 3 p.m. in 451M
Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W
Morning meetings for Jan. 30:
Education at 10 a.m. in 451M
Gov. Org at 10 a.m. in 208W
