Members of the BLET’s New Mexico State Legislative Board, from left: Gil Tafoya, Div. 791; Steve Seale, Div. 192; Gilbert Montiel, Div. 446; Clem Harris, Div. 15; Charlie Jeffcoat, Div. 811; and Mike Willis, Div. 446. (Not pictured: Alvin Largo, Div. 400)
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Members of the BLET State Legislative Board in New Mexico have been working at the state capital to advance rail safety legislation related to wayside detectors and rail worker protection when reporting safety violations.
House Bill 146 would require railroads to install wayside detector systems every 10 miles. The bill also would prohibit railroads from retaliating against workers who report rail safety violations. Brother Clem Harris, an Amtrak locomotive engineer who serves as Chairman of the BLET New Mexico State Legislative Board, testified in support of the bill. He said the 10-mile threshold was necessary to help prevent derailments like the 2023 toxic spill and fire in East Palestine, Ohio.
Following the hearing earlier this month, members of the House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee passed the legislation by a vote of 9-1. Harris said the bill received support from New Mexico House Majority Whip Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D-15), the bill’s primary sponsor, and also U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), who met with members of the New Mexico State Legislative Board to discuss the bill’s contents and language.
Harris said the bill will next face scrutiny in the House Transportation and Public Works Committee, followed by the House Judiciary Committee. “Our Board has had several Brothers step up and participate, which is why we’ve had the success that we’ve had,” Harris said.