SAM Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8692
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-07: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-22T10:23:36Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 8692: Shared Autonomous Mobility Act of 2026 (SAM Act of 2026)
Purpose
This legislation aims to support the deployment of autonomous shared mobility vehicles by expanding federal grant programs under the Department of Transportation. It focuses on enabling the use of funds for purchasing and integrating automated driving technology in new bus models, while establishing dedicated testing facilities and updating related regulations.
Key Provisions
- New Grant Program: Establishes the Accelerating Innovative Mobility Grant Program, under which the Secretary of Transportation can award competitive grants to eligible entities for projects accelerating the deployment of covered shared mobility vehicles.
- Definitions Added: Introduces terms such as "covered shared mobility vehicle" (a new bus model equipped with an automated driving system) and "automated driving system" (hardware and software capable of performing the dynamic driving task at SAE levels 3, 4, or 5).
- Funding Details: Authorizes $60 million for fiscal year 2027 and $40 million for fiscal year 2028. At least 15% of funds must support rural area projects. The federal share of project costs may reach 80%, with in-kind contributions allowed for the non-federal portion.
- Allowable Uses: Grants may fund projects eligible under existing transit research provisions, as well as the acquisition of vehicles, equipment, software (including for automated driving systems and vehicle monitoring), and software updates.
- Testing Requirements: Requires the establishment of at least one dedicated facility by January 1, 2027, for testing new covered shared mobility vehicles on criteria like safety, performance, and emissions. This facility must be located where substantial road-based validation testing of automated systems occurs.
- Broader Grant Amendments: Modifies multiple existing programs (such as SMART grants, bus facilities grants, and capital investment grants) to explicitly permit the use of funds for acquiring and updating software related to automated driving systems.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 5302 of title 49, United States Code, to expand definitions related to bus configurations and add new terms for autonomous technology.
- Creates a new Section 5341 in chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, for the innovative mobility grant program.
- Updates Section 5318 to differentiate testing for standard new bus models versus covered shared mobility vehicles and introduces a pass/fail scoring system with collaboration requirements.
- Revises the FAST Act and various grant sections (e.g., 5309, 5339, 6701, 6702) to include software acquisitions and updates for automated systems within eligible expenditures.
- Adjusts rolling stock definitions to encompass software for autonomous vehicles.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Transportation must establish the new grant program within 90 days, create testing facilities, and issue or modify regulations within 180 days. This may require additional administrative resources for application reviews, selections, and oversight.
- On Citizens: Could lead to increased availability of autonomous public transit options in urban and rural areas, potentially improving mobility for underserved populations, though specific outcomes depend on grant recipients' projects.
- On International Relations: No direct provisions address international aspects, but expanded domestic testing and deployment of automated technology may indirectly influence global standards for vehicle automation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Transit agencies and eligible recipients under existing federal transit programs.
- Private entities, including transit vehicle manufacturers, through partnerships for technology deployment.
- Bus manufacturers and operators involved in testing and acquiring automated systems.
- Rural communities, due to the reserved funding allocation.
- The Secretary of Transportation and related federal agencies responsible for program administration and facility maintenance.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill maintains federal oversight through competitive grant processes and required testing standards, without altering core constitutional authorities over interstate commerce or transportation.
- It permits combination of funds from multiple federal sources while preserving existing government share requirements, potentially streamlining project financing but requiring coordination across programs.
- No provisions introduce new regulatory mandates beyond testing and reporting, focusing instead on expanding eligibility for technology integration within current frameworks.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-07: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2026-05-07: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-07: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Shared Autonomous Mobility Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-07 — PDF (14 pages)