Sponsor
Frank Pallone
Representative · D-NJ
Representative · D-NJ
The bill improves price transparency and baseline vehicle safety with stronger consumer enforcement, but shifts costs and legal risks onto manufacturers and dealers and imposes a tight timeline that may disrupt the market.
First-time vehicle buyers will see optional safety feature costs itemized separately, making it easier for them to compare total vehicle prices and options.
First purchasers will benefit from some safety features being offered as standard trim, increasing baseline vehicle safety without additional purchase decisions.
State attorneys general can seek injunctions, restitution, and civil penalties to deter and remedy misleading bundling of safety features, strengthening consumer protection enforcement.
Automakers and dealers will face increased compliance costs to change pricing, packaging, and disclosure practices, which may be passed on to buyers and raise vehicle prices for first purchasers.
Vehicle sellers face higher litigation risk from new FTC enforcement plus parallel state AG suits, increasing legal and administrative costs for manufacturers and dealers.
A 180-day implementation window forces rapid redesign of offerings and labeling, risking market disruption for manufacturers and dealers who must retool pricing and inventory quickly.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires vehicle sellers to offer optional safety features separately or as standard and to disclose their cost separately; enforces via FTC and state AG suits.
Official title: To ensure that lifesaving motor vehicle safety features are offered independently of convenience and luxury features, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 4, 2026 by Frank Pallone · Last progress February 4, 2026
Prohibits motor vehicle sellers from offering an optional safety feature to a first purchaser only as a bundled option that includes non-safety items. Sellers must either offer the safety feature separately from non-safety features or include it as standard trim and must disclose the safety feature's cost clearly and separately. The Federal Trade Commission enforces the rule and State attorneys general get civil enforcement authority; the rule takes effect 180 days after enactment.