Motor Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2]
In Committee
Summary
Creates a 36-month planning and transparency regime for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to modernize rulemaking and research. It sets public timelines, links to supporting research, and pushes clearer testing and consumer information for vehicle automation, equipment, and recalls.
Show full summary
- Families and vehicle owners: Expands recall notification options and lets owners request recall notices by certified mail. The bill directs a study to identify barriers to recall service with an initial report in 1 year and a follow-up in 4 years.
- Manufacturers and suppliers: Tightens exemption rules by expanding who can get exemptions, capping exemption length, and imposing deadlines with deemed approval if decisions are late. It also expands testing and evaluation to cover motor vehicle equipment and encourages reusing performance test criteria and New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) data.
- Consumers, people with disabilities, and emergency responders: Creates multiple studies and working groups on automation education, vehicle ownership costs, automated wheelchair securement, VIN modernization, and post‑crash rescue. Most groups must report publicly within 2 to 3 years.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
New NCAP office and testing
If enacted, the bill would create an Office of the New Car Assessment Program at NHTSA led by an Associate Administrator with vehicle safety expertise. The office would set a voluntary manufacturer performance testing and reporting process within 1 year. The Administrator would create an 18-member advisory committee within 180 days that must report on a public-private partnership idea within 4 years and ends after 10 years. The office would also report on consumer education activities every 2 years.
Quadrennial vehicle safety reviews
If enacted, the bill would require NHTSA to review motor vehicle safety standards within 1 year and every 4 years after. Reviews would use safety data, technology advances, manufacturer cost info, and public comments. The agency could only change a standard if the change is still consistent with motor vehicle safety. Results must go to congressional committees and feed into the next priority plan.
Planned rulemaking and reporting
If enacted, the bill would require NHTSA to publish a 36-month motor vehicle safety rulemaking and research priority plan and update it every 2 years. Each plan would list planned rules, cite legal authority, link supporting research, note NCAP relevance, and give timing for notices and final rules. The agency would also update internal project schedule procedures to follow recognized practices, and the Comptroller General would study implementation within 5 years. Reports under the Infrastructure Act would have to include explanations and milestones when deadlines are missed.
Recall fixes, notices, and timing
If enacted, the bill would require NHTSA to study why recalled vehicles do not get fixed and send an initial report within 1 year and a final report within 4 years. It would expand acceptable recall notice methods to include email and certified mail. If you are the registered owner and ask by a reasonable method, the manufacturer would have to send your recall notice by certified mail. The bill would also clarify that a supplier's defect notice does not by itself prove a vehicle was defective when sold and ties a manufacturer's duty to notify to the manufacturer's internal decision.
Manufacturer exemption and limits
If enacted, the bill would raise the vehicle-volume eligibility threshold for exemptions from 2,500 to 90,000 vehicles. Exemptions or renewals could be granted for no more than 5 years. The Secretary would have 1 year to decide on a complete exemption application, and an application would be deemed approved if no decision is made unless the agency says it is incomplete. The Administrator must issue guidance within 1 year on how manufacturers can show equivalent safety.
Fire rescue access working group
If enacted, the bill would create a 15-member Motor Vehicle Fire Rescue Working Group within 180 days. The group would study how first responders can safely access and extract people from vehicles after crashes and give recommendations within 3 years. Members would serve without pay and get travel expenses. The group would end 60 days after it files its report.
Consumer education on vehicle automation
If enacted, the bill would create a working group within 180 days to recommend consumer education and marketing about vehicle automation. The group would explain differences between driver-assist systems and automated driving systems, system limits, human-machine interfaces, and emergency fallback. The group must publish a public report within 3 years and would end when it files that report. The group would include manufacturers, owners, consumer and disability groups, and other stakeholders.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Guthrie, Brett [R-KY-2]
KY • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov