Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)
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3 SENATE BILL 971 By: Weaver
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to railroads; defining terms;
7 requiring certain railroad trains to have two
8 certified crew members aboard; providing exceptions;
8 providing penalty and penalty amount; providing for
9 codification; providing an effective date; and
9 declaring an emergency.
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12 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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13 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
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14 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 104 of Title 66, unless there is
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15 created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
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16 A. As used in this section:
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17 1. "Certified crew member" means an employee involved in the
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18 operation of a railroad train, including a certified engineer or a
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19 certified conductor, and not including a hostler service employee,
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20 utility employee, or contractor;
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21 2. "Helper service" means the use of a locomotive or group of
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22 locomotives to assist another railroad train that is experiencing
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23 mechanical failure or lacks the power to traverse difficult terrain,
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Req. No. 811 Page 1
1 including the travel to or from the location where the assistance is
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2 provided; and
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3 3. "Hostler service" means the movement of locomotives that are
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4 not attached to rail cars within a rail yard.
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5 B. Any person, firm, or corporation operating a railroad train
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6 in connection with carrying freight in this state shall have at
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7 least two certified crew members aboard the railroad train while the
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8 railroad train is in motion.
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9 C. The provisions of this section shall not apply to:
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10 1. Trains that are used primarily for the purpose of
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11 transporting people from one location to another or are used for
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12 tourism purposes such as scenic, historic, or excursion rides;
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13 2. A locomotive or group or locomotives that are traveling no
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14 faster than thirty (30) miles per hour outside of a rail yard and
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15 are attached only to a caboose;
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16 3. Helper service;
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17 4. Hostler service; and
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18 5. The movement of a train for the purpose of loading or
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19 unloading freight, provided that the train is moving no faster than
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20 ten (10) miles per hour.
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21 D. The Department of Public Safety shall have the authority to
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22 issue a citation to any person, firm, or corporation that violates
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23 the provisions of this section. Such person, firm, or corporation
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24 shall be subject to a fine:
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Req. No. 811 Page 2
1 1. Not less than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) nor more
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2 than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for a first offense;
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3 2. More than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) but not to exceed
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4 Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for a second offense committed
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5 within three (3) years; or
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6 3. More than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) but not to
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7 exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) for a third or subsequent
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8 offense committed within three (3) years.
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9 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
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10 SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
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11 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
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12 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
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13 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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15 60-1-811 MSBB 1/19/2025 5:46:58 AM
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Req. No. 811 Page 3Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.