<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">Here is in-depth info on an important piece of legislation  currently progressing through congress regarding autonomous vehicles. This deals with creating a national frame work.</div></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large"><p style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">The legislation often referred to as the <b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">&quot;SAFE Drive Act&quot;</b> is officially the <b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">SELF DRIVE Act of 2026</b> (H.R. 7390). It is formally titled the <b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research in Vehicle Evolution Act</b>.</p><h3 style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Current Status</b></h3><ul style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><li style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Formal Introduction:</b> The bill was officially introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on <b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">February 5, 2026</b>, by Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI).</p></li><li style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Committee Progress:</b> It has been referred to the <b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">House Committee on Energy and Commerce</b> and the <b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">House Committee on Foreign Affairs</b>. As of March 2026, it is undergoing committee review and stakeholder hearings.</p></li><li style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Legislative Path:</b> Lawmakers are exploring the possibility of incorporating the act into the <b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">2026 Surface Transportation Reauthorization</b> bill, which would provide a more certain path to passage before the end of the current session.</p></li></ul><hr style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><h3 style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Comprehensive Breakdown of the Bill</b></h3><p style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">The SELF DRIVE Act of 2026 is designed to create a unified federal framework for the testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles (AVs).</p><table style="margin-bottom:32px;font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><thead style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><tr style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><td style="border:1px solid;line-height:1.15"><strong style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">Key Feature</strong></td><td style="border:1px solid;line-height:1.15"><strong style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px">Detailed Explanation</strong></td></tr></thead><tbody style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><tr style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><td style="border:1px solid;line-height:1.15"><span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Federal Preemption</b></span></td><td style="border:1px solid;line-height:1.15"><span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Explicitly prohibits states from enacting laws that restrict the design or performance of AVs. This is intended to eliminate the &quot;patchwork&quot; of 34+ different state regulations.</span></td></tr><tr style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><td style="border:1px solid;line-height:1.15"><span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Safety Cases</b></span></td><td style="border:1px solid;line-height:1.15"><span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Manufacturers must submit a &quot;safety case&quot;\u2014a data-backed argument\u2014to NHTSA proving their system is safe before large-scale deployment.</span></td></tr><tr style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><td style="border:1px solid;line-height:1.15"><span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">SAE Levels 3-5</b></span></td><td style="border:1px solid;line-height:1.15"><span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">The bill specifically codifies and regulates <b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Levels 3, 4, and 5</b> automation, where the system handles the majority or all of the driving tasks.</span></td></tr><tr style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><td style="border:1px solid;line-height:1.15"><span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Revenue for Testing</b></span></td><td style="border:1px solid;line-height:1.15"><span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">For the first time, the bill allows autonomous trucks to generate revenue (transport freight for pay) while still in the &quot;testing and evaluation&quot; phase.</span></td></tr><tr style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><td style="border:1px solid;line-height:1.15"><span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Safety Data Repository</b></span></td><td style="border:1px solid;line-height:1.15"><span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Establishes a <b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">National Automated Vehicle Safety Data Repository</b>. Manufacturers must report serious crashes within 30 days of the incident.</span></td></tr><tr style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><td style="border:1px solid;line-height:1.15"><span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Cybersecurity</b></span></td><td style="border:1px solid;line-height:1.15"><span style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Mandates that manufacturers develop and maintain written cybersecurity plans to protect vehicle control systems from unauthorized access.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><hr style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><h3 style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Direct Links to News Articles</b></h3><ul style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><li style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Official Press Release (Rep. Bob Latta):</b> <span class="gmail-" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=406708" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">https://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=406708</a></span></span></p></li><li style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">ACT News (Policy Analysis):</b> <span class="gmail-" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.act-news.com/news/congress-formalizes-av-framework/" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">https://www.act-news.com/news/congress-formalizes-av-framework/</a></span></span></p></li><li style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">FreightWaves (Impact on Trucking):</b> <span class="gmail-" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.freightwaves.com/news/self-driving-bill-greenlights-revenue-generating-rigs" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">https://www.freightwaves.com/news/self-driving-bill-greenlights-revenue-generating-rigs</a></span></span></p></li><li style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Sidley Austin LLP (Legal Briefing):</b> <span class="gmail-" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://environmentalhealthsafetybrief.sidley.com/2026/01/08/members-of-congress-propose-a-new-bill-to-regulate-autonomous-vehicles/" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">https://environmentalhealthsafetybrief.sidley.com/2026/01/08/members-of-congress-propose-a-new-bill-to-regulate-autonomous-vehicles/</a></span></span></p></li><li style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Upstream Auto (Industry Commentary):</b> <span class="gmail-" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://upstream.auto/blog/the-self-drive-act-returns-why-congress-is-taking-another-shot-at-av-regulation/" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">https://upstream.auto/blog/the-self-drive-act-returns-why-congress-is-taking-another-shot-at-av-regulation/</a></span></span></p></li></ul><h3 style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">YouTube News Coverage</b></h3><ul style="font-family:&quot;Google Sans Text&quot;,sans-serif;line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><li style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">FreightWaves Morning Minute (Legislative Update):</b> <span class="gmail-" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNB90_FhXrw" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNB90_FhXrw</a></span></span></p></li><li style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">Senate Committee on Commerce (Hearing Recording):</b> <span class="gmail-" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/4B417566-2E6B-4460-B38E-1D745F2146C7" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">https://www.commerce.senate.gov/services/files/4B417566-2E6B-4460-B38E-1D745F2146C7</a></span></span> (Note: This is a direct video/file link from the Senate committee&#39;s archive).</p></li><li style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><p style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><b style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">General News Coverage of AV Standards (News4):</b> <span class="gmail-" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><span class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM19SZTozzE" class="gmail-ng-star-inserted" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0px">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM19SZTozzE</a></span></span></p></li></ul></div></div>