Next Gen Road Safety Act

Bill Number

H.R. 8217

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Crime and Law Enforcement

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-04-09: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-05-30T08:05:49Z

AI-Generated Summary

H.R. 8217: Next Gen Road Safety Act

Purpose

This bill aims to improve public and officer safety during high-speed vehicle pursuits by allowing law enforcement agencies to use federal grants for specialized equipment that prevents or safely ends these chases.

Key Provisions

• Short Title: "Next Gen Road Safety Act."
• Grant Authorization: Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to expand allowable uses of COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) grants.
• New Eligible Purchases (added as paragraph 25 to 34 U.S.C. § 10381(b)):
• Equipment, technology, or support systems.
• Specific examples: vehicle-disabling systems (tools to stop fleeing cars safely), police bumper systems (devices on patrol cars for pursuit control), and drones.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Expands the list of permissible uses for COPS grants, which previously funded 24 categories of policing initiatives (e.g., hiring officers, training).
• Adds a 25th category focused solely on pursuit-related technology, without altering other grant rules or funding levels.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Enables the Department of Justice (which administers COPS grants) and local/state law enforcement to access federal funds for advanced pursuit tools, potentially reducing chase-related risks without new appropriations.
• Citizens: Could lower injuries or deaths from high-speed pursuits by promoting de-escalation tech.
• No International Relations Impact: Legislation is domestic-focused.

Main Stakeholders

• Law Enforcement Agencies: Primary beneficiaries, gaining funding flexibility for safety equipment.
• Local and State Governments: Eligible grant recipients, aiding police departments.
• Department of Justice: Oversees COPS program implementation.
• Public (Drivers and Bystanders): Indirectly affected through safer pursuit outcomes.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Straightforward amendment to existing grant statute; no new mandates or penalties.
• Constitutional: No apparent issues, as it expands voluntary grant uses without infringing rights.
• Political: Supports proactive policing reforms by funding technology over prolonged chases; introduced by bipartisan sponsors (Reps. Friedman and Lee of Florida), signaling cross-party interest in road safety.

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

Sponsor

Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30]

Cosponsors (3)

Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16]

Recent Actions

• 2026-04-09: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2026-04-09: Introduced in House
• 2026-04-09: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Next Gen Road Safety Act — issued 2026-04-09 — PDF (2 pages)