Safer Roads for Those Who Serve Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4245
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-26: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-17T19:51:42Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Safer Roads for Those Who Serve Act of 2026 aims to improve the safety of "highway workers" (defined in federal regulations as personnel on or near highways for maintenance, construction, or utility work) and other roadside responders by enhancing data collection, safety planning, public awareness, research, and project funding criteria.
Key Provisions
- Data and Safety Planning (FHWA): Requires states to collect and report crash data specifically for highway workers, separate from other road users; mandates states to develop strategies in their highway safety plans if highway worker injuries or deaths rise over a two-year period.
- Highway Safety Programs (NHTSA): Expands funding-eligible activities to protect roadside workers (e.g., construction workers, utility drivers, tow operators) in work zones and when hazard lights are activated; promotes "Move Over" laws (requiring drivers to slow down or change lanes near stopped emergency or service vehicles) through updated awareness materials, a public service announcement (PSA), and $2 million annual funding (FY 2027–2031).
- Research and Outreach (DOT): Directs the Secretary of Transportation to conduct research on protecting highway workers via education, engineering, and technology; leverages existing programs and facilities; authorizes $3 million annual funding (FY 2027–2031).
- Grant Program Criteria: Adds highway worker safety measures (e.g., work zone plans, speed management) as evaluation factors for major infrastructure grants like INFRA, MEGA, and BUILD.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends 23 U.S.C. § 148 (Highway Safety Improvement Program), § 402 (Highway Safety Programs), and § 405 (National Priority Safety Programs) to explicitly include highway workers in data, planning, and funding priorities.
- Modifies 23 U.S.C. § 117 (INFRA grants) and 49 U.S.C. §§ 6701, 6702 (MEGA and BUILD grants) by adding worker protection as a scoring criterion.
- Introduces new NHTSA requirements for Move Over law promotion and DOT research mandates, with dedicated appropriations not previously specified for these purposes.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: FHWA, NHTSA, and state DOTs must improve data systems, update plans, produce awareness campaigns, and prioritize worker safety in grants, potentially increasing administrative workload but supported by new funding.
- Citizens and Workers: Reduced injuries/deaths for highway workers and roadside responders; drivers benefit from PSAs promoting safer passing behaviors.
- Infrastructure Projects: Grant applicants (states, localities) face incentives to include robust work zone safety, leading to safer construction sites and completed highways.
- No direct international relations impact.
Main Stakeholders
- Highway workers (construction, maintenance, utility personnel) and roadside responders (tow operators, disabled vehicle occupants).
- State and local transportation departments (data reporting, safety plans, grant applications).
- Federal agencies (FHWA, NHTSA, DOT for oversight, research, outreach).
- Drivers and the public (via awareness campaigns).
- Infrastructure contractors (must demonstrate safety measures for funding).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens existing safety frameworks without creating new penalties; relies on regulatory definitions (e.g., 23 CFR § 630.1004) for consistency; authorizes targeted appropriations to support implementation.
- Constitutional: No apparent issues; uses spending power to incentivize state actions via grants and data requirements, preserving federalism.
- Political: Bipartisan introduction (Sens. Cortez Masto and McCormick); focuses on practical safety enhancements with modest funding, likely appealing across ideologies.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-26: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2026-03-26: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Safer Roads for Those Who Serve Act of 2026 — issued 2026-03-26 — PDF (10 pages)