# 119-hr-8692: SAM Act of 2026

119-hr-8692, SAM Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Kiley, Kevin [I-CA-3] (I-CA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8692
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-8692
- Congress: 119
- Title: SAM Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-05-07
- Sponsor: Rep. Kiley, Kevin [I-CA-3] (I-CA)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**Expands federal support for deploying automated driving systems on new bus models and other shared shared-mobility vehicles.** It would create a dedicated competitive grant program, authorize purchases of ADS software and updates with federal funds, and set testing and performance standards for ADS-equipped buses. - Transit agencies and local governments could receive competitive grants that cover up to 80.0% of project costs and may use funds to buy ADS software, software updates, and related operations technology. Grants may be combined with other federal transit funds. - Rural communities get an explicit boost with at least a 15.0% set-aside of annual program funds for rural projects, increasing access for smaller systems and remote areas. - Manufacturers and testing facilities must meet new standards. The bill would require standards-based testing facilities and a pass/fail scoring regime for new bus models by January 1, 2027, and directs a final rule to align testing within 180 days, while allowing partnerships between eligible recipients and private manufacturers. *Would authorize $60.0 million for FY2027 and $40.0 million for FY2028, increasing federal spending for ADS-enabled transit by $100.0 million in authorizations.*

## Provisions PRIA read

- Grants can buy automated driving software: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would let several federal transportation grants be used to acquire or update software for automated driving systems and for vehicle operation or monitoring. The change applies across programs for buses, fixed guideway projects, and other listed infrastructure grants. This would…
- Grants to deploy automated buses: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would create a new competitive grant program to speed deployment of new buses with automated driving systems. The Secretary would set up the program within 90 days and run annual 60-day application windows. Grants could pay for vehicles, equipment, ADS software and updates, and…
- Safety testing rules for self-driving buses: mixed, medium. If enacted, the bill would add a definition for an automated driving system for new bus models as a Level 3, 4, or 5 system under SAE J3016. The Secretary would have to issue or update a final testing rule within 180 days. The government would establish at least one testing facility by January 1, 2…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025
- 119-hr-471: Fix Our Forests Act
- 119-hr-1229: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2709: Save Our Sequoias Act
- 119-hr-7325: Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2026
- 119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-hr-8692 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8692)

## Related
- [119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2725)
- [119-hr-471: Fix Our Forests Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-471)
- [119-hr-1229: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1229)
- [119-hr-2709: Save Our Sequoias Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2709)
- [119-hr-7325: Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7325)
- [119-hr-4206: CONNECT for Health Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4206)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8692 (as of 2026-09-21).