MAP Roads Act

Bill Number

H.R. 5479

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Transportation and Public Works

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-09-19: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Last Updated

2025-12-19T09:07:17Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Modernizing Access to Public Roads Act (MAP Roads Act), H.R. 5479, aims to improve rural commerce, public safety, and navigation by funding the digitization of county roads—public roads maintained by county governments—and creating centralized, publicly accessible datasets of this information. It establishes a federal grant program to help states and counties convert outdated or paper-based road records into modern digital formats.

Key Provisions

• Pilot Grant Program Establishment: Within 180 days of enactment, the Secretary of Transportation must create a grant program awarding funds to states for digitizing county roads and building statewide data repositories.
• Eligibility and Application Process:
• States apply with details on their needs and plans.
• Priority goes to states with significant gaps in digitized county road data, the ability to manage subgrants to counties and maintain a data repository, and a commitment to standardizing data with counties.
• Use of Funds:
• Counties can use subgrants to digitize road records, convert paper or old-format maps to standardized digital geospatial data (location-based electronic information), and train staff or hire experts for these tasks.
• States must act as central repositories, publishing data on public websites that distinguish public from private roads, work with third-party mapping apps (like GPS services), update data yearly, and coordinate with federal agencies for consistent formats.
• Reporting Requirements: Grant-receiving states must submit reports to the Secretary starting 6 months after program launch, and annually for 3 years, covering subgrants awarded, funding distributed, miles of roads digitized, repository progress, and program improvement suggestions.
• Definitions:
• County road: A public road maintained by a county.
• Digitization: Converting physical or analog maps into electronic geospatial formats.
• Geospatial data: Location-specific information, as defined in existing federal law.
• Funding and Duration:
• Authorizes $20 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2031, with up to 2% for program administration by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
• Program sunsets (ends) on September 30, 2031, unless Congress reauthorizes it.
• Protections:
• A savings clause ensures the act does not change road ownership, jurisdiction, or public access rights under existing state or local laws.
• A rule of construction prevents public disclosure of sensitive data on historic, archaeological, or paleontological sites protected by other laws.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces a new pilot grant program under the DOT, which did not previously exist for this specific purpose. It builds on definitions from laws like the Geospatial Data Act of 2018 but does not amend or repeal any existing statutes. Instead, it adds federal incentives for states and counties to modernize road data without altering core legal frameworks for road management.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The DOT gains responsibility for administering grants and oversight, potentially streamlining federal coordination with state transportation departments. States and counties may see reduced administrative burdens from outdated records, enabling better resource allocation for maintenance and planning.
• Citizens: Rural residents and travelers benefit from improved GPS accuracy, safer navigation, and easier access to public roads, reducing risks like getting lost or accidents on unmapped routes. Public datasets could enhance emergency response and local commerce by supporting delivery services and tourism.
• International Relations: No direct impacts, as the focus is domestic road infrastructure.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• States and Counties: Primary recipients of grants; they handle digitization, subgrants, and data management, gaining tools for better infrastructure oversight.
• Department of Transportation (DOT): Leads program implementation, reporting, and coordination with federal mapping efforts.
• Rural Communities and Businesses: Indirect beneficiaries through enhanced safety, commerce, and navigation in underserved areas.
• Mapping and Tech Companies: Gain from compatible, updated public data that integrates with their platforms, potentially improving services like navigation apps.
• Federal Agencies: Involved in data standardization, such as those handling geospatial information.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: The savings clause and rule of construction safeguard against unintended changes to property rights or jurisdictional disputes, preserving state and local authority over roads. It also upholds protections for sensitive cultural resources, aligning with laws like the National Historic Preservation Act.
• Constitutional: No apparent challenges; the bill respects federalism by providing optional grants without mandating state actions or infringing on local control.
• Political: Supports rural infrastructure modernization, potentially appealing to bipartisan interests in economic development and safety. The sunset provision encourages future congressional review, while the modest funding level ($20 million/year) limits fiscal controversy but may spark debates on expansion for broader digital infrastructure needs.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Moore, Blake D. [R-UT-1]

Cosponsors (7)

Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. Hurd, Jeff [R-CO-3], Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4], Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2], Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45]

Recent Actions

• 2025-09-19: Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
• 2025-09-18: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
• 2025-09-18: Introduced in House
• 2025-09-18: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Modernizing Access to Public Roads Act — issued 2025-09-18 — PDF (6 pages)