On March 7, 2024, Legislative Director Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony to the House Environment and Transportation Committee in support of HB 1446 – Railroads – Safety Requirements (Maryland Railway Safety Act of 2024) with amendments. This bill generally addresses railroad safety in Maryland, including strengthening requirements governing railroads’ provision of hazardous materials information to state and federal emergency management officials.
Providing local emergency managers with access to accurate and up-to-date information about hazardous materials shipments on trains is a matter of public safety and a fundamental responsibility of the government to protect its residents. As such, MACo requests an amendment to ensure rail hazmat information is available to the appropriate federal, state, and county emergency management officials.
Local emergency managers are the first line of defense in mitigating and responding to emergencies within our communities. However, without comprehensive information on hazardous materials and waste moving through their jurisdictions, county emergency managers’ ability to effectively prepare for and respond to hazmat-related incidents is severely compromised. Absent this vital knowledge, emergency responders may find themselves ill-prepared to contain spills, evacuate residents, or provide appropriate medical care in the event of an accident.
HB 1446’s cross-file, SB 1060, was heard on March 14, 2024 in the Senate Finance Committee. Kevin Kinnally submitted written testimony in support of this bill with amendments.
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