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A 5774

Relates to allowing for students in postsecondary education experience or transition program to receive awards from the tuition assistance program

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Burdick and 27 co-sponsors

Exempts nonprofit/government steam-locomotive historic programs from amusement-park rules if trained crews, boiler inspections, and no paid public rides.

REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION
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Bill Summary · A 5774

Summary of Assembly Bill A 5774 (Introduced June 12, 2025)

Note: The introduced text for A 5774 provided here concerns historic educational programs about steam locomotives, and exemptions from amusement-park regulation. The bill’s title provided in the prompt refers to tuition assistance for postsecondary students in transition programs, which appears to be a mismatch with the introduced content. This summary focuses on the introduced content as written.

Overview

  • Bill Number: A 5774
  • Title (as introduced): Relates to historic educational programs about steam locomotives and supplementing N.J.S.18A:73-25.
  • Purpose (as introduced): Exempts the operation of a steam locomotive railroad run by a nonprofit or governmental entity as part of an educational historic museum program from regulation as an amusement park or amusement-park ride, under specific safety and operational conditions.
  • Status: REFERRED TO HIGHER EDUCATION; Assembly actions show introduction on 2025-06-12 and referral to Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee. Primary sponsor listed as Rebecca Seawright; multiple cosponsors.
  • Effective date: Immediate upon enactment.

Key Provisions

  1. Exemption from amusement-park oversight

    • The operation of a historic educational program concerning steam locomotive railroads by a nonprofit (501(c)(3) status) or a governmental entity shall not be regulated or inspected by the State as an amusement park.
    • The operation of a steam locomotive railroad within the program shall not be deemed an amusement-park ride if certain conditions are met.

  2. Conditions to maintain the exemption

    • Personnel: All train-operating personnel (e.g., engineer, fireman, conductor, yard master, dispatcher, station master) must be properly trained in accordance with railroad standards or regulations for their duties.
    • Maintenance and inspections: All standard maintenance and operating procedures for the equipment must be followed, including boiler inspections by State-certified boiler inspectors. Proof of boiler inspection must be provided to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), Division of Codes and Standards, in a form/manner established by the commissioner.
    • Public rides restrictions: The museum may not offer paid admission to rides on the locomotive railroad or sell tickets for rides at specific times.

  3. Scope of the exemption

    • The bill aims to allow nonprofit historic museums operating replica steam locomotives (not heavy enough to qualify as regular DOT-regulated transportation) to run educational experiences without being treated as amusement parks, provided the above safety/training/inspection safeguards are observed.
    • The programs are described as educational experiences that replicate historical travel by train rather than providing public transportation or scheduled amusement rides.

  4. Effective date

    • The act would take effect immediately upon enactment.

Who Is Affected

  • Nonprofit organizations that operate historic steam locomotive museums or replica railroad programs, particularly those with 501(c)(3) status.
  • Governmental entities that run such historic educational programs.
  • State agencies involved in regulation (DCA, Division of Codes and Standards) for boiler inspections and related compliance.

Procedural/Timeline Aspects

  • Legislative History:
    • 2025-02-20: Referred to Higher Education.
    • 2025-06-12: Introduced in the Assembly; referred to Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee.
  • Related items indicate a companion bill in another chamber (S 4433) and prior-session A/S bills related to similar topics.

Related Context

  • The introduced text emphasizes safety and education, with an intent to preserve historical educational experiences while ensuring trained staff, proper procedures, and boiler inspections.
  • It explicitly prohibits monetized public rides on the steam locomotive within the exemption framework, signaling a focus on non-commercial educational demonstrations rather than amusement-park-style attractions.

Notes

  • There is a marked discrepancy between the provided bill title (tuition assistance awards for postsecondary students in transition programs) and the introduced text (steam locomotive historic-educational program exemption). Readers should verify the official bill text and title in the legislative repository to resolve this mismatch and confirm the bill’s intended scope.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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