Rural Safety Administration Flexibility Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2789
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-29T12:49:56Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation aims to adjust federal requirements for distributing highway safety program funds under title 23 of the United States Code, with a focus on providing greater flexibility for states with lower population densities.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 402(b)(1)(C) of title 23, United States Code, to reduce the mandatory percentage of funds that must be spent by political subdivisions from 40 percent to 20 percent in the case of rural states.
- Adds a new paragraph (3) defining a "rural State" as any state whose population density falls below the national average, determined using data from the most recent decennial Census.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces an exception to the existing 40 percent spending requirement for political subdivisions, applying a lower threshold exclusively to qualifying rural states.
- Establishes a formal statutory definition for "rural State" tied to census-based population density metrics, which was not previously included in this subsection.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Allows state highway safety agencies in rural states greater discretion in allocating funds at the state level rather than mandating transfers to local political subdivisions.
- On citizens: May influence the distribution of safety programs, such as enforcement or education initiatives, potentially directing more resources through state-level efforts in less densely populated areas.
- On international relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State governments, particularly those meeting the rural density criteria.
- Political subdivisions (such as counties or municipalities) within rural states, which would face reduced mandatory fund allocations.
- Federal agencies responsible for overseeing highway safety programs, including the Department of Transportation.
- Residents and local officials in rural areas who rely on these safety initiatives.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill represents a targeted modification to federal grant conditions without altering broader constitutional authorities over interstate commerce or funding.
- It introduces a population-based classification system that could affect funding equity between urban and rural jurisdictions but remains within existing legislative frameworks for highway programs.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2025-09-11: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Rural Safety Administration Flexibility Act — issued 2025-09-11 — PDF (2 pages)