# 119-hr-8717: Negating Neighborhood Noise Act of 2026

119-hr-8717, Negating Neighborhood Noise Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5] (D-GA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8717
- 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-8717
- Congress: 119
- Title: Negating Neighborhood Noise Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-05-07
- Sponsor: Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5] (D-GA)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**This bill would limit Highway Trust Fund payments for most Type II highway noise barriers while allowing narrow exceptions and enabling multipurpose uses.** It would add Surface Transportation Block Grant eligibility for certain Type II barriers, require aesthetic review following the Federal Highway Administration Noise Barrier Design Handbook, and define multipurpose barriers as those that provide environmental, economic, or social benefits in addition to noise reduction. - States and project sponsors would face new funding limits for Type II barriers. The bill creates three narrow exceptions and includes a residential exception tied to groups of homes that are at least 10 years old when proposed. - Surface Transportation Block Grant Funds would be allowed to pay to plan, design, preserve, or build Type II barriers, provided those projects meet the restrictions in section 339(b) of the National Highway System Design Act. - Local governments could approve multipurpose barriers that host renewable energy, electric transmission or distribution, or broadband conduit. Project sponsors must consider aesthetics when building or preserving barriers using the latest FHWA Noise Barrier Design Handbook.

## Cosponsors (3)

- Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4] (D-CT), 2026-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2026-05-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6] (D-IL), 2026-05-07T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Block Grant Money for Noise Barriers: benefit, low. This bill would let Surface Transportation Block Grant funds be used to plan, design, preserve, or construct Type II noise barriers, as long as the activities follow the requirements of section 339(b). State and local transportation agencies and project sponsors would be able to use those block gra…
- Limits Highway Trust Fund for Noise Barriers: cost, medium. This bill would stop Highway Trust Fund money from being used to build Type II noise barriers under subsections (h) and (i) of 23 U.S.C. 109. Three exceptions would allow trust fund use: if the barrier was not part of a project approved by the Secretary before November 28, 1995; if the barrier is a…
- Allow Multipurpose Barriers and Design Rules: mixed, medium. This bill would allow noise barriers built or preserved under section 339(b) or with title 23 funds to serve as multipurpose barriers. A State, on behalf of the Secretary, would be able to approve a secondary beneficial use inside a Federal-aid highway right-of-way. Secondary uses would include hos…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-8870: BUILD America 250 Act
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-8717 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8717)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-8870: BUILD America 250 Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8870)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7853)
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8717 (as of 2026-09-21).