Sponsor
Kevin Kiley
Representative · I-CA
Representative · I-CA
The bill accelerates deployment and modernization of automated shared transit by subsidizing ADS vehicles, software, and standardized testing—improving access and safety oversight potential—while shifting significant costs, operational risk, and privacy/cybersecurity concerns to local agencies, taxpayers, and riders.
Local governments, transit agencies, and transit operators can purchase ADS-equipped buses and licensed automated-driving/monitoring software with federal grants covering up to 80% of costs and allowing combination with other federal programs, enabling faster fleet modernization and lowering upfront acquisition barriers.
Rural communities receive a guaranteed set‑aside (at least 15% of annual funds), improving transit access and investment outside urban areas.
Transportation workers, agencies, and riders gain access to objectively tested ADS/shared-mobility bus models and at least one dedicated testing facility by Jan 1, 2027, improving confidence in safety and reliability before procurement.
Taxpayers will finance $100 million in new authorizations over two years, increasing federal spending without identified offsets.
Public grant dollars used to buy ADS vehicles and software may disproportionately benefit manufacturers and private partners, effectively subsidizing private firms with public funds.
Funding and accelerating SAE Level 3–5 systems and related software risks premature deployment before safety standards and regulatory frameworks are fully developed, raising safety and liability concerns for riders, operators, and other road users.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes a DOT grant program and rule changes to fund and test shared vehicles with automated driving systems, and allows federal grants to buy/license ADS and monitoring software.
Official title: To amend title 49, United States Code, to allow certain grant funds issued by the Secretary of Transportation to be used for the deployment and purchasing of technology for certain autonomous shared mobility vehicles, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 7, 2026 by Kevin Kiley · Last progress May 7, 2026
Creates a competitive federal grant program and regulatory changes to speed deployment of new shared buses, vans, and cars equipped with automated driving systems (ADS). It defines covered shared mobility vehicles and ADS, authorizes grant funding for vehicle acquisition, software (including ADS and monitoring software), and related projects, sets a rural set‑aside and cost‑share rules, and expands multiple federal grant programs to permit use of funds for licensed software and software updates. Requires the Department of Transportation to maintain or add vehicle testing facilities (including at least one for covered shared mobility vehicles by Jan 1, 2027), to adopt a bus-model scoring rule and pass/fail standard within 180 days, and to update federal rolling-stock definitions to explicitly include ADS and operations/monitoring software for autonomous vehicles.