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Baby Changing on Board Act
Last action · May 12, 2026: Held at the desk.Sponsors: Peter Welch and 1 other
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law
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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.
What This Bill Would Do
Official description
Baby Changing on Board Act
Why it matters
Parents and caregivers traveling on new federally funded intercity trains will have access to dedicated diaper-changing facilities, which are currently not required by federal law on all rail cars.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Directly affected
Amtrak
Must ensure new passenger rail cars include baby changing tables and appropriate signage.
Directly affected
Intercity passenger rail service providers
Providers receiving federal financial assistance must comply with the new installation requirements for new rail cars.
Directly affected
Parents and caregivers
Will have access to baby changing facilities on newly built intercity passenger rail cars.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply to all existing Amtrak trains?
No. The requirement only applies to newly built passenger rail cars solicited for purchase after the Act is enacted.
What is the weight limit for the changing tables?
The tables must be designed to support a child with a body weight of up to 30 pounds.
Are private rail cars included in this requirement?
No, private rail cars used for excursion, recreational, or private transportation are explicitly excluded.
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
10 actions- May 12, 2026HouseHeld at the desk.
- May 12, 2026HouseReceived in the House.
- May 12, 2026SenateMessage on Senate action sent to the House.
- May 11, 2026SenateFloorPassed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2204; text: CR S2204)
- May 11, 2026SenateFloorPassed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Apr 22, 2026SenatePlaced on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 378.
Show 4 earlier actions
- Apr 22, 2026SenateCommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-118.
- Feb 12, 2026SenateCommittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- Jan 13, 2025SenateCommitteeRead twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Jan 13, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced in Senate
Version history & redline
3 versions on fileComparing Reported to Senate → Engrossed in Senate
[Generated by AI - not the official text]
No Material Changes to the Baby Changing on Board Act
removed addedOfficial text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 71 removed: Reported added: Engrossed in Senate removed: (RS)]
added: (ES)]
<DOC>
removed: Calendar No. 378
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 71
removed: [Report No. 119-118]
To require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in bathrooms on
passenger rail cars.
_______________________________________________________________________
removed: IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 13, 2025
Mr. Welch (for himself and Mrs. Blackburn) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
April 22, 2026
Reported by Mr. Cruz, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
added: AN ACT
To require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in bathrooms on
passenger rail cars.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
removed: <DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Baby Changing on Board
Act''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. INSTALLATION OF BABY CHANGING TABLES ON AMTRAK
TRAINS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--Chapter 243 of title 49, United States
Code, is amended by inserting after section 24313 the
following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 24314. Baby changing tables</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) ADA-compliant restroom.--The term `ADA-
compliant restroom' means a restroom that complies with the
requirements set forth in section 242(a) of the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12162(a)).</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) Baby changing table.--The term `baby
changing table' means an elevated, freestanding structure
generally designed to support and retain a child with a body
weight of up to 30 pounds in a horizontal position for the
purpose of allowing an individual to change the child's diaper,
including pull-out or drop-down changing surfaces.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(3) Covered passenger rail train.--The term
`covered passenger rail train'--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) means a passenger rail train that--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(i) is owned and operated by the
National Railroad Passenger Corporation
(commonly known as `Amtrak'); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(ii) was solicited for purchase
after the date of the enactment of the Baby
Changing on Board Act for use by Amtrak;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) does not include any passenger rail
train that Amtrak operates, but does not own.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(b) Baby Changing Tables.--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) In general.--All covered passenger rail
trains shall have a baby changing table in at least one
restroom in each rail car, including in an ADA-compliant
restroom.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) Signage.--Such restroom shall clearly
indicate with signage the presence of a baby changing table and
such baby changing tables shall be clearly identified with
signage.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Clerical Amendment.--The chapter analysis for chapter
243 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 24313 the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``24314. Baby changing tables.''.
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Baby Changing on Board Act''.
SEC. 2. INSTALLATION OF BABY CHANGING TABLES ON
[…]
243 of
title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item
relating to section 24313 the following:
``24314. Baby changing tables.''.
removed: Calendar No. 378
added: Passed the Senate May 11, 2026.
Attest:
Secretary.
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 71
removed: [Report No. 119-118]
_______________________________________________________________________
removed: A BILL
added: AN ACT
To require Amtrak to install baby changing tables in bathrooms on
passenger rail cars.
removed: _______________________________________________________________________
April 22, 2026
Reported with an amendment
Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
policy shift90% confidence
Future-proofing rail infrastructure
The legislation focuses exclusively on future procurement, ensuring that the cost of retrofitting is avoided by mandating changes only for newly solicited rail cars.
Connected Entities
Sources
Open source document
www.congress.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy5Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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