SB 972 - This act provides that any at grade railroad crossing constructed on or after August 28, 2026, shall include advanced detection and monitoring systems, as defined in the act, that are capable of detecting and classifying objects along the crossing and its approaches; of analyzing object behavior in real time to identify safety risks; of generating real-time alerts to warn train crews, operations personnel, and other relevant parties of potential hazards; and of providing integration capability with existing and future rail operation protocols, including positive train control (PTC) systems. The State Highways and Transportation Commission shall develop standards and specifications for such advanced detection and monitoring systems, as well as identify priority crossings for immediate upgrades based on hazard assessments and traffic volumes. The act requires the Department of Transportation to develop a program for the provision of grant funds and public-private partnerships for the installation of advanced detection and monitoring systems, with preference given to the priority crossings identified by the Commission. TAYLOR MIDDLETON