H.R. 8692
SAM Act of 2026
Sponsor: Kevin Kiley · 0 cosponsors
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Text of the bill
(a) Amendment to chapter 53 defined terms. Section 5302 of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in paragraph (14)(B) by striking configuration or components and inserting configuration or components (including a major change to equip or facilitate automated driving systems); and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(26) Covered shared mobility vehicle. The term covered shared mobility vehicle means a new bus model equipped with an automated driving system.
(27) Automated driving system. With respect to a new bus model, the term automated driving system means a system of hardware and software that—
(A) is collectively capable of performing the entire dynamic driving task on a sustained basis, regardless of whether such system is limited to a specific operational design domain; and
(B) is a level 3, 4, or 5 vehicle driving automation system, as defined in the standard titled J3016_202104—Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to Driving Automation Systems for On-Road Motor Vehicles and published by SAE International on April 29, 2021, or any substantially similar successor standard of SAE International.
(b) Program. Chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
5341. Accelerating innovative mobility grant program
(a) In general. Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the Shared Autonomous Mobility Act of 2026, the Secretary shall establish a program (referred to in this section as the Program) under which the Secretary may make competitive grants to covered entities for use carrying out a project to accelerate the deployment of a covered shared mobility vehicle in accordance with this section.
(b) Application
(1) In general. To be eligible to receive a grant under the Program, a covered entity shall submit to the Secretary an application—
(A) during a 60-day submission period to be specified by the Secretary and occurring not less frequently than once annually; and
(B) in such form and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(2) Solicitation. The Secretary may solicit a covered entity to submit an application under paragraph (1).
(c) Selection. Not later than 60 days after the end of a submission period under subsection (b)(1)(A), the Secretary shall select for receipt of a Program grant such applicants as the Secretary determines appropriate based on criteria established by the Secretary.
(d) Reservation of funds. From the amounts made available under subsection (h) for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve not less than 15 percent to make grants to covered entities for use carrying out in rural area projects for which Program funds may be used.
(e) Allowable uses. Recipients of a Program grant may use Program funds on the following:
(1) Projects eligible for Federal assistance under section 5312.
(2) Acquisition of equipment (including vehicles), acquisition (including by license) of software (including software automated driving systems and software for the operation or monitoring of autonomous vehicles), and updates to such software.
(f) Project funding
(1) Federal share. Notwithstanding section 5311, the Federal share of a project carried out using Program funds may not exceed 80 percent of the estimated total cost of the project.
(2) In-kind contributions. The non-Federal share of the cost of a project carried out using Program funds may be provided in the form of in-kind contributions.
(g) Other sources of Federal funds
(1) In general. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a Program grant recipient from receiving financial assistance under any other law for use in a project for which the grant is issued.
(2) Combination permitted. A project carried out using Program funding may receive funding under section 5307 or any other provision of law.
(3) Government share. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to alter the Government share required under subsection (f), section 5307, or any other provision of law.
(h) Authorization of appropriations. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for use carrying out this section—
(1) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 to remain available through fiscal year 2030; and
(2) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2028 to remain available through fiscal year 2031.
(i) Covered entity defined. In this section, the term eligible recipient means—
(1) an entity that is an eligible recipient under section 5339 or an entity described in section 5312(b)(2); and
(2) a partnership, entered into through a contract that satisfies the competitive procurement process under section 5325, between an entity described in paragraph (1) and—
(A) a private entity, including a transit vehicle manufacturer, for purposes of carrying out a project to accelerate the deployment of a covered shared mobility vehicle; or
(B) a transit vehicle manufacturer for purpose of carrying out any project for which Program funds may be used under this section.
(c) Technical amendment. The table of sections in chapter 53 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding after the item relating to section 5340 the following:
5341. Accelerating innovative mobility grant program.
(d) Rolling stock. Section 3019(b)(1)(A) of the FAST Act (49 U.S.C. 5325 note) is amended—
(1) in clause (iv) by striking and at the end;
(2) in clause (v) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new clause:
(vi) the term rolling stock and related equipment includes—
(I) buses, vans, and cars;
(II) software for automated driving systems in such buses, vans, and cars;
(III) software for the operation or monitoring of autonomous vehicles, include autonomous buses, vans, and cars; and
(IV) updates to software described in subclauses (II) and (III).