HB 1323 — Railroad Crossing Safety

F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 1323 2026 A bill to be entitled An act relating to railroad crossing safety;

requiring athe railroadDepartment crossingof constructedTransportation afterto conduct a specifiedstatewide datestudy toon include an advanced detection and monitoring system;systems at railroad crossings;

providingspecifying requirementsthe forscope suchof system;the study;

requiring anthe existingdepartment railroadto crossingconsult upgradewith or significant modification occurring after a specified dateentities; to incorporate such system;

requiring thea Departmentreport of Transportation, in consultation with rail operators and safety experts, to developthe certainGovernor standards, identify priority existing railroad crossings, and provideLegislature technicalby assistancea tospecified raildate; operators;

authorizing funding assistance, tax credits, and other financial incentives;

providing reporting requirements;

351.38 Railroad crossing safety.—safety technology study.— (1) The Legislature finds that improving safety at railroad crossings is critical to protecting the lives of Pagepedestrians, 1motorists, ofrailway 4workers, CODING:and the general public.

Advanced detection and monitoring systems utilizing technologies such as sensors, high-resolution cameras, and data analytics may provide a reliable means to enhance situational awareness and reduce collisions at railroad crossings.

The Legislature further finds that additional analysis is necessary to evaluate the Page 1 of 4 CODING:

hb1323-00hb1323-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 1323 2026 pedestrians,effectiveness, motorists,feasibility, costs, and railwayimplementation workers.of such systems.

AdvancedIt detectionis andthe monitoringintent systemsof utilizingthe cutting-edgeLegislature technology,to suchdirect asthe LiDARDepartment sensors,of high-resolutionTransportation cameras,to andstudy artificialthese intelligence-driventechnologies analytics,before provideconsidering aany reliablestatewide andrequirements effectivefor meanstheir todeployment. prevent collisions and enhance situational awareness.

The Legislature intends to minimize accidents, save lives, and promote public safety by requiring railroad crossings to include or integrate advanced detection and monitoring systems.

(a) "Advanced detection and monitoring system" means a system capable of detecting and classifying objects such as pedestrians, vehicles, andor wildlifeother obstructions at railroador crossingsapproaching anda theirrailroad approachescrossing using technologies suchincluding, asbut LiDARnot sensors,limited high-to, resolutionsensors, high-resolution cameras, and artificialdata intelligence-driven analytics.

(b) "Hazard"Public assessment"railroad-highway meansgrade thecrossing" processhas ofthe analyzingsame detectedmeaning objectsas toin determines. whether a safety risk exists based on predefined criteria.

(c)335.141(1)(b). "Real-time alerts" means automated notifications generated to warn train crews, operations centers, or other stakeholders of safety hazards.

(3)(a)(3) AThe railroadDepartment crossingof constructedTransportation aftershall Julyconduct 1,a 2026,statewide muststudy includeon anthe potential use of advanced detection and monitoring systemsystems capableat of:public railroad-highway grade crossings in this state.

1.The study must include, but is not limited to, an analysis of:

Providing(a) hazardAvailable assessment.and emerging advanced detection and monitoring technologies applicable to railroad crossings.

(b) The effectiveness of such technologies in improving safety outcomes, including collision prevention and hazard mitigation, based on available data from pilot programs, deployments in other jurisdictions, or academic research.

hb1323-00hb1323-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 1323 2026 2.(c) Technical and operational considerations, including interoperability with existing railroad safety systems and operating protocols.

Generating(d) real-timeCosts alerts.associated with the deployment of advanced detection and monitoring systems, including installation, operation, maintenance, and long-term lifecycle costs.

3.(e) Potential funding mechanisms, including federal funds, state funds, grants, or public-private partnerships.

Providing(f) integrationCriteria capabilityfor withidentifying existinghigher-risk andrailroad futurecrossings railwhere operationsuch protocols,technologies includingmay positiveprovide trainthe controlgreatest systems.safety benefit.

(b)(g) AnLegal, upgraderegulatory, toand oroperational aconsiderations significantrelated modificationto ofthe andeployment existingand railroadoversight crossingof occurring after July 1, 2026, must integrate an advanced detection and monitoring systemsystems. as described in paragraph (a).

(4)(h) The Departmentrespective roles of Transportation,this instate, consultationlocal withgovernments, railand operatorsrailroad andowners safetyin experts,the shall:potential implementation of such systems.

(a)(4) DevelopIn standardsconducting andthe specificationsstudy, for the deploymentDepartment of advancedTransportation detectionshall andconsult monitoringwith, systemsas atappropriate: railroad crossings.

(b)(a) IdentifyRailroad priorityowners existingand railroad crossingsindustry forrepresentatives. immediate upgrades or significant modifications based on risk assessments and traffic volume.

(c)(b) ProvideLocal technicalgovernments assistancewith tojurisdiction railover operatorspublic inrailroad-highway implementinggrade advancedcrossings. detection and monitoring systems.

(5)(a)(c) FundingTransportation assistancesafety forexperts implementing advanced detection and monitoringacademic systemsinstitutions. may be provided through grants, state infrastructure funds, or public-private partnerships.

(b) Rail operators may qualify for tax credits or other financial incentives for the timely installation of advanced detection and monitoring systems at priority existing railroad crossings.

hb1323-00hb1323-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S HBCS/HB 1323 2026 (6)(a)(d) ByFederal Julyagencies 1,or 2027,national andorganizations annuallywith thereafter,expertise railin operatorsrailroad mustsafety. provide a report to the Department of Transportation detailing the performance of advanced detection and monitoring systems, including data on hazard assessment and detection, real-time alerts issued, and incidents prevented.

(b)(5) By JulyDecember 1, 2028,2026, and biennially thereafter, the Department of Transportation shall evaluatesubmit thea effectivenessreport of theits advancedfindings detection and monitoringany systemsrecommendations and provide a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The report may include potential policy options for legislative consideration but may not recommend mandatory installation or upgrade of railroad crossings.

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