S 1779119th CongressIn Committee

LOCOMOTIVES Act

Introduced: May 15, 2025

Environment & Climate

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill, titled the LOCOMOTIVES Act, would significantly limit state authority to set emission standards for locomotives. It amends the Clean Air Act to prohibit states from adopting or enforcing emission standards for existing locomotives and for engines used in locomotives. The act broadens coverage beyond some prior categories and explicitly includes locomotives engaged in common carrier railroad transportation for compensation. In short, it strengthens federal preemption over locomotive emissions rules, ensuring uniform regulation at the federal level and blocking stricter or divergent state standards for these engines. The bill also tweaks the nonroad engine framework within the Clean Air Act by adjusting who is regulated and clarifying that certain locomotive-related engines are subject to regulation under the Act. It is sponsored by a group of senators and is identified with the short title “LOCOMOTIVES Act” (standing for Lifting Overburdensome Commerce Obstructions and Motives Act).

Key Points

1Prohibits states from imposing emission standards on “existing locomotives and engines used in locomotives,” effectively preempting state rules for these engines.
2Amends 209(e)(1) to broaden the scope to “any of the following nonroad engines or nonroad vehicles” rather than a narrower set, and specifies that locomotives and engines in locomotives are subject to regulation under the Act.
3Adds a new subparagraph (C) that covers locomotives or engines used in locomotives that are:
4- not described in the earlier subparagraph (B), and
5- engaged in commerce (i.e., all locomotives providing common carrier railroad transportation for compensation under 49 U.S.C. §10102).
6Explicitly includes locomotives engaged in common carrier railroad transportation for compensation within the preemption scope.
7Provides a short title: “LOCOMOTIVES Act,” signaling a focus on lifting burdens related to locomotive regulation and commerce.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Railroads and locomotive operators (including freight and passenger services), as well as locomotive manufacturers and owners of existing locomotives.- Federal and state environmental regulatory agencies (it restricts state emissions standards for locomotives, shifting authority toward federal regulation).Secondary group/area affected- States with their own locomotive emission programs or plans; potential reduction in state leverage to push cleaner locomotive technologies.- Workers and nearby communities near rail yards who might be affected by locomotive emissions and air quality concerns, depending on how federal standards compare to any state standards that would have applied.Additional impacts- Regulatory certainty and consistency for the railroad industry due to uniform federal standards.- Potential changes in environmental policy flexibility at the state level; possible shifts in funding or incentives for locomotive retrofits or acquisitions that would have been driven by stricter state standards.- Economic and logistics implications for interstate rail transportation, given the bill’s emphasis on common carrier operations under federal preemption.Nonroad engines/vehicles: engines not used for on-road vehicles (e.g., construction or farm equipment). The bill redefines and extends the regulatory framework for these engines.Common carrier railroad transportation (under 49 U.S.C. §10102): locomotives used to provide transportation services for compensation, i.e., typical freight and passenger rail operations. This bill explicitly includes such locomotives in the preemption against state emission standards.Preemption: the idea that federal law overrides conflicting state laws. This bill would strengthen federal control over locomotive emissions standards and preempt stricter or divergent state actions.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 7, 2025