What does Preamble of SAM Act of 2026 do?

This bill proposes to amend title 49 of the United States Code. The proposed amendment would allow certain grant funds issued by the Secretary of Transportation to be used for the deployment and purchasing of technology. The technology is intended for use in certain autonomous shared mobility vehicles.

What does SHORT TITLE. of SAM Act of 2026 do?

This bill is formally titled the Shared Autonomous Mobility Act of 2026.

What does ACCELERATING INNOVATIVE MOBILITY GRANT PROGRAM. of SAM Act of 2026 do?

This section establishes the Accelerating Innovative Mobility Grant Program under Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code. The program provides competitive grants to covered entities for projects accelerating the deployment of covered shared mobility vehicles, which are defined as new buses equipped with automated driving systems. Eligible recipients include entities eligible under sections 5339 or 5312(b)(2), and partnerships between such entities and private entities or transit vehicle manufacturers. Applications are accepted during a 60-day submission period, occurring at least annually, and the Secretary may solicit applications. The Federal share of a project using Program funds may not exceed 80 percent of the total cost. The Secretary shall reserve not less than 15 percent of funds for rural area projects. The Act authorizes $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 through 2030 and $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2028 through 2031. The definition of 'rolling stock and related equipment' is amended to include buses, vans, and cars, along with related software and updates.

What does TESTING FACILITIES FOR NEW BUS MODELS, INCLUDING CERTAIN of SAM Act of 2026 do?

This section amends Section 5318 of Title 49, United States Code, concerning bus testing facilities. It requires the Secretary to maintain one facility for testing new bus models (excluding covered shared mobility vehicles) and, by January 1, 2027, at least one facility for testing new covered shared mobility vehicles. The Secretary must ensure that facilities for covered shared mobility vehicles are located at sites with existing automated driving system validation testing. The Secretary is required to establish a final rule with a bus model scoring system, including weighted testing categories like maintainability, reliability, safety, and fuel economy. This scoring system will establish a 'pass/fail' standard for new bus models. The Secretary must collaborate with bus testing facilities, manufacturers, and transit agencies in developing the scoring system. The Secretary must establish a final rule within 180 days of the Act's enactment to comply with the amended section 5318(e)(2).

What does AMENDMENTS TO ALLOW CERTAIN GRANT FUNDS TO BE USED TO ACQUIRE of SAM Act of 2026 do?

This section amends several grant programs to allow funds to be used for the acquisition and updating of software, including software for automated driving systems and software for the operation or monitoring of autonomous vehicles. The Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation Grant Program, Fixed Guideway Capital Investment Grants, Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities, and National Infrastructure Project Assistance programs are modified to explicitly permit software acquisition. The Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development Grant Program is amended to specifically allow eligible entities to use grant funds for software updates or acquisition related to eligible projects. The amendments clarify that software acquisition can include licensing.

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SAM Act of 2026

Last updated: 5/7/2026 · Introduced: 5/7/2026

Author: Kevin Kiley (I-CA)

TL;DR (AI)

The SAM Act establishes a grant program providing competitive funding to accelerate the deployment of automated driving system-equipped buses, prioritizing projects in rural areas and reserving up to 15% of funds for them.
The bill mandates the creation of dedicated bus testing facilities, including at least one specifically for autonomous shared mobility vehicles, and establishes a scoring system to evaluate new bus models based on factors like safety and reliability.
This Act expands the permissible uses of existing federal transportation grant programs to include the acquisition and updating of software, including software for automated driving systems and autonomous vehicle operation.

119th Congressin committeeOfficial page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 3 more.

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