Disaster Ready Infrastructure Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9235
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-09: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-01T16:08:54Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 9235: Disaster Ready Infrastructure Act of 2026
Purpose
This legislation aims to enhance transportation planning by requiring the identification of vulnerabilities to natural disasters in certain plans. It seeks to improve the resilience of transportation infrastructure by focusing on facilities critical during or after frequent natural disasters.
Key Provisions
- Metropolitan Transportation Planning Amendment: Adds a new requirement under section 134(i)(2) of title 23, United States Code, for metropolitan planning organizations to include in their plans:
- Identification of existing transportation facilities most vulnerable to common natural disasters in the area.
- Identification of facilities most necessary to keep operational during or immediately after a natural disaster.
- Identification of improvement projects needed to maintain such operations.
- Statewide and Nonmetropolitan Transportation Planning Amendment: Adds a new requirement under section 135(f) of title 23, United States Code, for statewide transportation plans to include similar identifications for the state as a whole:
- Vulnerable existing transportation facilities to frequent natural disasters.
- Facilities essential for operation during or after disasters.
- Necessary improvement projects.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
The bill introduces mandatory additions to the transportation planning processes already outlined in title 23 of the United States Code. These changes expand the scope of required elements in metropolitan and statewide plans without altering the core structure of those sections.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Metropolitan planning organizations and state transportation departments would need to incorporate new vulnerability assessments into their planning documents, potentially requiring additional data collection and analysis.
- On Citizens: Residents in areas prone to natural disasters may benefit from more resilient transportation networks, though no direct changes to individual rights or access are specified.
- On International Relations: No direct effects are outlined in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Metropolitan planning organizations responsible for local transportation plans.
- State departments of transportation involved in statewide planning.
- The U.S. Department of Transportation, which oversees compliance with title 23 requirements.
- Communities and regions frequently impacted by natural disasters.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill represents a federal mandate on state and local planning processes through amendments to existing U.S. Code provisions. It does not introduce new enforcement mechanisms or penalties beyond standard compliance expectations for federally funded transportation plans. No specific constitutional concerns, such as federalism issues, are addressed in the text itself.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-09: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2026-06-09: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Disaster Ready Infrastructure Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-09 — PDF (3 pages)