Tristan's Law
- Bill Number
- S. 4874
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-23: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-09T21:00:51Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation, titled "Tristan's Law," aims to reduce pedestrian injuries and deaths involving children near stopped frozen dessert trucks by encouraging states to require specific safety equipment on these vehicles through federal grant incentives.
Key Provisions
- Findings: Notes that nearly 17% of child traffic deaths in 2023 were pedestrians, highlights risks from trucks blocking visibility and distracting children, and supports state-level rules like requiring complete stops by passing drivers and equipping trucks with safety devices.
- Fund Reservation: Amends Section 405 of title 23, United States Code, to allocate 1% of national priority safety program funds to states that adopt and enforce laws requiring frozen dessert trucks to meet detailed equipment standards. This reduces the allocation for another program from 7% to 6%.
- Equipment Requirements: Trucks must include:
- Alternately flashing red signal lamps (5-7 inches diameter, visible 500 feet).
- An extendable stop signal arm with specific dimensions, flashing red lights, reflective background, and the legend "STOP" (6-inch letters) with "IF SAFE" above and "THEN GO" below.
- A convex front mirror for visibility under the hood.
- A front crossing arm (yellow/white reflective, extends 4-6 feet when deployed).
- Grant Allocation: Funds distributed proportionally to each state's existing highway safety apportionment.
- Study and Guidance: Directs the Secretary of Transportation to study injuries/fatalities linked to these trucks, potential driver behavior changes, and the feasibility of restricting stops where children must cross roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration must issue related guidance, and a report goes to Congress.
- Effective Date: Applies to grant applications and state plans starting in fiscal year 2026.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new subsection (j) to Section 405 for frozen dessert truck safety, creating a dedicated 1% funding category.
- Redesignates existing paragraphs and adjusts percentages to accommodate the new allocation.
- Introduces federal standards for vehicle equipment that states must adopt to qualify for the grants, shifting from general safety programs to targeted requirements.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases administrative workload for the Department of Transportation and states in implementing equipment rules, conducting the study, and managing grants; may require updates to state highway safety plans.
- Citizens: Could enhance child safety near ice cream trucks by standardizing visible warnings and barriers, though effects depend on state adoption rates.
- International Relations: None identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State and local governments responsible for enacting and enforcing the required laws.
- Operators of frozen dessert trucks, who must install and maintain the specified equipment.
- Children and families who purchase from these trucks.
- Federal agencies including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Department of Transportation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Relies on conditional federal funding to influence state vehicle regulations, consistent with existing highway safety grant structures.
- No direct mandates on states or private parties, preserving state flexibility while creating financial incentives.
- The detailed technical specifications for equipment may require coordination with federal traffic control standards.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-23: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2026-06-23: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Tristan's Law — issued 2026-06-23 — PDF (11 pages)