Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4429
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Foreign Trade and International Finance
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-25T12:18:24Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 aims to protect U.S. economic and national security by prohibiting the importation, manufacture, sale, resale, or introduction into interstate commerce of connected vehicles (vehicles with wireless communication capabilities), related covered software, and connected vehicle hardware linked to covered countries—defined as North Korea, China, Russia, and Iran. It addresses risks like data theft, espionage, and remote vehicle control.
Key Provisions
- Phased Prohibitions (effective January 1, 2027, for vehicles and software; January 1, 2030, for hardware):
- Bans connected vehicles if manufactured in or designed in a covered country, or if the manufacturer is significantly controlled (e.g., >15% equity for vehicles, >25% for software/hardware) by entities from covered countries.
- Applies even if prohibited components are removed or added later.
- Excludes rail vehicles; allows testing by qualified U.S. entities and repairs/warranties for pre-2030 hardware.
- Secretary of Commerce Authority (via Under Secretary for Industry and Security):
- Prohibit additional risky transactions (e.g., software updates, data services).
- Issue authorizations for exceptions based on risk assessments, with 60-day congressional review.
- Publish lists of authorized items and provide rulings/advisory opinions within 45 days.
- Require declarations of conformity certifying compliance.
- Enforcement:
- Civil penalties: Minimum $1,500,000 or 5x transaction value per violation; continuing violations count daily.
- Annual reports to Congress on enforcement, compliance, and recommendations.
- Coordination: Consults with agencies like Defense, Transportation, and FCC; uses existing advisory bodies.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Builds on Executive Order 13873 (national emergency on ICT supply chain risks) and existing Commerce regulations (e.g., 15 CFR Part 791 Subpart D on connected vehicles).
- Expands bans to full vehicles (not just components), sets firm timelines, lowers control thresholds for vehicles (15% vs. prior), and adds congressional oversight for authorizations.
- Extends prior exclusions temporarily but requires review by 2030; allows reliance on classified info in enforcement.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload for Commerce (enforcement, rulings, reports); requires interagency coordination, potentially straining resources.
- Citizens/Consumers: Limits access to affordable imported connected vehicles (e.g., Chinese EVs), raising prices; affects repairs and software updates for existing vehicles.
- Business/Industry: Disrupts U.S. auto supply chains, importers, and sellers; favors domestic/non-covered manufacturers but may spur innovation in secure tech.
- International Relations: Heightens trade tensions with covered countries, especially China (major vehicle exporter); could prompt retaliatory measures.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Automotive Industry: Manufacturers, suppliers, dealers—gain protection but face supply disruptions.
- Importers/Sellers/Resellers: Must comply with declarations, prohibitions; risk penalties.
- Consumers: Impacted by reduced vehicle options, higher costs.
- Foreign Entities: Companies from covered countries lose U.S. market access.
- Government: Commerce Dept. (lead enforcer), Congress (oversight), other agencies (consultation).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Broadens commerce powers under the Commerce Clause; allows ex parte use of classified info in court, potentially limiting challenges; severability clause preserves most of Act if parts invalidated.
- Constitutional: Raises due process questions on penalties/transactions without prior notice; petitions for review don't automatically pause enforcement.
- Political: Bipartisan (introduced by Sens. Moreno and Slotkin); signals strong U.S. stance on China tech threats, aligning with supply chain security trends; may influence future trade/tech policies.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (20)
Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI], Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR], Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO], Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL], Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE], Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY], Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND], Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC], Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT], Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT], Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN], Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS], Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV], Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-29: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2026-04-29: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-29 — PDF (26 pages)