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119-s-4874119th CongressWALLET

Tristan's Law

Sponsored By: Senator Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

Introduced

Summary

Protect children around frozen dessert trucks.

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This bill would create a federal grant program and require specific safety equipment and rules to reduce pedestrian risks near frozen dessert trucks.

  • Families and children: Targets a problem where about 17% of child traffic deaths were pedestrians, aiming to reduce injuries by improving truck visibility and stopping behavior.
  • States: Would set aside 1% of the Section 405 safety funds for states that adopt the required laws, with the program applying to grant applications for fiscal year 2026 and after.
  • Truck operators and enforcement: Would require trucks to be equipped with flashing signal lamps, a stop signal arm, a front convex mirror, and a front crossing arm. It also mandates a federal study of injuries and countermeasures and a report with guidance to state highway safety officers.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.

New grants for truck safety laws

If enacted, the bill would set aside 1% of Section 405 funds each year for states that adopt and implement laws to make frozen dessert trucks safer. The Secretary of Transportation (through NHTSA) would be authorized to award grants to States to establish and implement those laws. Each qualifying State's share would be proportional to its Section 402 apportionment for fiscal year 2022. The set-aside and grant authority would apply to grant applications and State highway safety plans for fiscal year 2026 and later.

New safety gear for ice cream trucks

If enacted, the bill would define a "frozen dessert truck" and let states require specific safety gear. Truck owners would need two alternately flashing red signal lamps visible at least 500 feet. They would need a left-side stop signal arm with specified dimensions, lights visible at least 300 feet, a convex front mirror, and a front crossing arm that extends 4–6 feet and sits 16–20 inches above the road when deployed. These equipment rules would apply where a State adopts and implements the required laws and to plans submitted for fiscal year 2026 and later.

Lower safety fund share for states

If enacted, the bill would reduce a reserved share of Section 405 safety funds from 7% to 6%. That is a one percentage point cut in the affected National Priority Safety Programs allocation each year. The change would apply to grant applications and State highway safety plans for fiscal year 2026 and later. This shifts one point of Section 405 funding away from the prior category and toward the new frozen dessert truck set-aside.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

CT • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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