S. 1798

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To prescribe standards for autonomous vehicles, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES · May 15, 2025 · Sponsor: Ms. Lummis · Committee: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

S. 1798

SEC. 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Autonomous Vehicle Acceleration Act of 2025.

SEC. 2. Findings

Congress finds that—
- rapid advancements in autonomous vehicle technology present significant opportunities to improve transportation safety, efficiency, and mobility;
- current Federal motor vehicle safety standards were not designed with fully autonomous vehicles in mind, creating certification challenges and slowing design and production of vehicles without drivers;
- maintaining global leadership in autonomous vehicle technology will enhance the competitiveness of the United States, foster economic growth, and spur innovation across the domestic manufacturing sector; and
- the most advanced automated driving systems have demonstrated safety records superior to human drivers in comparable situations, indicating that maintaining regulatory frameworks designed exclusively for human operators may delay lifesaving technological implementation.

SEC. 3. Definitions

In this Act:
- The term FMVSS means a Federal motor vehicle safety standard prescribed under section 30111(a) of title 49, United States Code.
- The term SAE International Standard J3016 means SAE International Recommended Practice entitled , numbered J3016, and dated April 2021 (or a successor standard adopted by the Secretary). The term means SAE International Recommended Practice entitled , numbered J3016, and dated April 2021 (or a successor standard adopted by the Secretary). Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to Driving Automation Systems for On-Road Motor Vehicles
- The terms , , and have the meanings given those terms in SAE International Standard J3016. automated driving system,Level 4,Level 5
- The term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- The term Volpe 2016 Report means the report of the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center of the Department of Transportation entitled and dated March 2016. The term means the report of the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center of the Department of Transportation entitled and dated March 2016. Review of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) for Automated Vehicles: Identifying Potential Barriers and Challenges for the Certification of Automated Vehicles Using Existing FMVSS

SEC. 4. Implementation of Volpe Center recommendations

(a) In general
- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall address, in accordance with subsection (b), all certification challenges identified by the Volpe Center 2016 Report relating to—
  - the presumption of a human driver; and
  - performance specifications, test procedures, or equipment requirements that do not adequately account for autonomous vehicle designs.
(b) Regulatory updates
- The Secretary shall, as the Secretary determines appropriate, develop, amend, interpret, exempt from application, or otherwise update any FMVSS requirement or other regulation, guidance, or interpretation under the jurisdiction of the Secretary to ensure that the certification and approval process for Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous vehicles is not unduly obstructed by assumptions of traditional human-driver designs, including requirements relating to seating arrangements, internal cabin configurations, window placement, driver controls, and other features, as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Discretionary compliance determination and rulemaking authority
- At the discretion of the Secretary, and through such rulemaking as the Secretary determines to be necessary, including by establishing exemption processes for autonomous vehicles consistent with section 30114(a) of title 49, United States Code, autonomous vehicles may be determined to be in compliance with applicable regulations relating to motor vehicle safety, including any FMVSS.
(d) Report
- Not later than 180 days after the date described in subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report detailing steps taken by the Secretary under subsection (b) to address the challenges identified by the Volpe Center 2016 described in subsection (a), including any new or revised rules or guidance issued by the Secretary.

SEC. 5. Roadmap for future concepts

(a) In general
- Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop a roadmap to achieve commercial-scale deployment of Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous vehicles.
(b) Requirements
- The roadmap required under subsection (a) shall—
  - support the design, manufacturing, and deployment of Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous vehicles in the United States;
  - promote United States leadership in global autonomous vehicle markets and supply chains;
  - identify ways to lower practical, technological, and regulatory barriers to Level 4 and Level 5 autonomous vehicle deployment;
  - recommend a risk hierarchy involving the use of autonomous vehicles and a standard of safety for autonomous vehicle use;
  - incorporate a supplemental technology assessment, which shall—
    - identify and address—
      - (i) new technologies and industry developments since publication of the Volpe 2016 Report;
      - (ii) emerging safety concerns specific to autonomous vehicle operations; and
      - (iii) recommended updates to the findings or recommendations of the Volpe 2016 Report; and
    - on completion, be used by the Secretary to propose any amendments to any existing FMVSS that are necessary to ensure clarity, consistency, and safety for autonomous-vehicle designs; and
  - include any additional initiatives or strategies the Secretary determines necessary to achieve the objectives of this Act.
(c) Supplemental technology assessment interim update
- Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a preliminary update describing progress, challenges, and next steps taken by the Secretary to carry out the supplemental technology assessment described in subsection (b)(5).
(d) Roadmap updates
- The roadmap required under subsection (a) shall be updated periodically, as determined necessary by the Secretary.
(e) Report
- The Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress, and make publicly available, the roadmap required under subsection (a).