H.R. 7390: SELF DRIVE Act of 2026
Sponsor
Robert Latta
Republican · OH-5
Congress sets driverless car rules
Why it matters
Congress is moving now because H.R. 7390 would force the federal government to set nationwide rules for autonomous vehicles on a fast timetable, with major deadlines starting on September 30, 2026.
At the same time, the bill limits state power. States and local governments could not block the manufacture or sale of ADS vehicles if a safety case has been developed, and they could not impose their own crash-reporting requirements. But they would still control traffic laws, registration, inspections, congestion management, insurance, consumer protection, environmental rules, and sale, repair, and service regulations. The bill also lets the Secretary authorize limited commercial operations during testing, including passenger or freight service, while allowing limits on vehicle count, mileage, revenue, or duration so testing does not turn into 'de facto deployment.'
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Feb 10, 2026
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 12 - 11.
H.R. 7390 Bill Summary
What H.R. 7390 actually does.
Federal safety case rule due by September 30, 2027
The Secretary of Transportation, through the NHTSA Administrator, must issue a final rule by September 30, 2027 requiring manufacturers of ADS-equipped vehicles to complete a safety case and provide it upon request. That filing must include hardware and software details such as braking, steering, computing, redundancies, sensors, platform integration, plus hazard analysis, crash response, and a cybersecurity plan.
Crash reporting starts September 30, 2026
The bill requires a final rule establishing a National Automated Vehicle Safety Data Repository by September 30, 2026, and the reporting section takes effect that same date. Manufacturers must report a covered crash within 30 days of the crash or 10 days after getting notice of it, whichever is later.
Covered crash defined by 30-second ADS window
A covered crash is one on a public road where the automated driving system was engaged within 30 seconds before the incident and the crash involved a fatality, an injury requiring transport, airbag deployment, a strike of a vulnerable road user, or towing. The bill specifically defines vulnerable road users to include pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, wheelchair users, and riders of non-motor vehicles such as tractors or ATVs.
Quarterly mileage reports sunset after 5 years
Manufacturers must file quarterly reports on total miles traveled with the ADS engaged, giving regulators a running picture of real-world use. That requirement expires 5 years after the final repository rule is issued, making it a temporary data-gathering tool rather than a permanent mandate.
Driverless vehicles can skip manual controls
ADS-dedicated vehicles designed for exclusive Level 4 or Level 5 driverless operation are exempt from requirements for manually operated human-driver controls. But if they carry occupants, they must still provide a way to command the vehicle into a minimal risk condition and let people exit safely.
Commerce review due within 1 year
The Secretary of Commerce must review the connected vehicles supply-chain security rule listed at 90 Fed. Reg. 5360 within 1 year of enactment. After finishing that review, Commerce must brief the relevant congressional committees within 60 days.
Who benefits from H.R. 7390?
Autonomous vehicle manufacturers
They get a clearer national framework for Level 3, Level 4, and Level 5 vehicles, including federal definitions tied to the April 2021 SAE J3016 standard and protection from conflicting state bans on manufacture or sale once a safety case is developed.
Federal safety regulators at NHTSA
NHTSA gains a stronger oversight structure, including a September 30, 2027 deadline for the safety case rule, a September 30, 2026 deadline for the national crash data repository, and quarterly mileage data for up to 5 years after the final repository rule.
Passengers using driverless services
People riding in ADS-dedicated vehicles benefit from rules requiring a way to command the vehicle into a minimal risk condition and exit safely, even when the vehicle has no traditional human-driver controls.
Vulnerable road users
Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, wheelchair users, and riders of non-motor vehicles like tractors and ATVs are specifically named in the bill, and any crash striking one of them counts as a covered crash if the ADS was engaged within 30 seconds beforehand.
Who is affected by H.R. 7390?
State and local governments
They would lose some authority because they could not prohibit the manufacture or sale of ADS vehicles if a safety case is developed, and they could not require their own crash reporting. They would still keep power over traffic laws, registration, inspections, insurance, consumer protection, environmental laws, and repair and service rules.
Companies testing autonomous vehicles
Testing companies could be allowed to run limited commercial passenger or freight operations, but the Secretary may cap vehicle count, mileage, revenue, or duration to stop testing from becoming full commercial deployment.
Manufacturers of ADS-equipped vehicles
They face new compliance duties, including producing a safety case by the deadline set in the final rule due September 30, 2027, reporting covered crashes within 30 days or 10 days after notice, and filing quarterly mileage reports until the 5-year sunset.
Secretary of Commerce and supply-chain regulators
They must revisit the connected vehicle supply-chain security rule at 90 Fed. Reg. 5360 within 1 year of enactment and provide a congressional briefing within 60 days after the review is complete.
HR7390 Legislative Journey
House: Vote: 12-11
Feb 10, 2026
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 12 - 11.
House: Committee Action
Feb 5, 2026
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
About the Sponsor
Robert Latta
Republican, Ohio's 5th congressional district · 19 years in Congress
Committees: Energy and Commerce
View full profile →
Cosponsors (15)
All 15 cosponsors are Republicans. Cosponsors represent 12 states: Arizona, California, Florida, and 9 more.
Craig Goldman
Republican · TX
Thomas Kean
Republican · NJ
David Schweikert
Republican · AZ
Troy Balderson
Republican · OH
Burgess Owens
Republican · UT
Gus Bilirakis
Republican · FL
Erin Houchin
Republican · IN
Matt Van Epps
Republican · TN
Mariannette Miller-Meeks
Republican · IA
Earl Carter
Republican · GA
Randy Weber
Republican · TX
Richard Hudson
Republican · NC
Committee Sponsors
Energy and Commerce Committee
11 of 54 committee members cosponsored
46 Republicans across these committees haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 7390 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Energy and Commerce
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Transportation and Public Works
- Introduced
- Feb 5, 2026
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 12 - 11.
Feb 10, 2026
Who is lobbying on H.R. 7390?
7 organizations lobbying on this bill
AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COUNCIL | 2 |
WAYMO LLC | 2 |
GENERAL MOTORS | 2 |
NATIONAL AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION | 2 |
WAYMO LLC | 2 |
NOSSAMAN LLP ON BEHALF OF SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY | 2 |
WAYMO LLC | 1 |
Showing 1-7 of 7 organizations
H.R. 7390 Common Questions
When do self-driving car crash reports have to be filed under the SELF DRIVE Act?
Manufacturers must report a covered crash within 30 days of the crash or 10 days after they learn about it, whichever is later, under the SELF DRIVE Act of 2026 (Sec. 30131).
What crashes must self-driving car companies report if ADS was on within 30 seconds?
According to H.R. 7390 Section 30131, a covered crash includes a fatality, injury requiring transport, airbag deployment, a vulnerable road user strike, or towing if ADS was engaged within 30 seconds before the crash.
Can states ban the sale of driverless cars if the manufacturer has a safety case?
No. Under the SELF DRIVE Act of 2026, states and localities cannot prohibit the sale or import of ADS vehicles if a safety case has been developed (Sec. 3, federal preemption).
When does the federal self-driving car safety case rule have to be finalized?
The Transportation Secretary must issue the final safety case rule by September 30, 2027, under the SELF DRIVE Act of 2026 (Sec. 30130(b)).
What has to be included in a self-driving car safety case under HR 7390?
Under H.R. 7390 Section 30130(b), the safety case must cover hardware and software, operating domain, hazard analysis, safety performance, crash response, hazard alerts, and a cybersecurity plan.
Can driverless vehicles be sold without a steering wheel or pedals under the SELF DRIVE Act?
Yes. ADS-dedicated Level 4 or 5 vehicles can be exempt from manual human-driver controls if occupants can command a minimal risk condition and exit safely under the SELF DRIVE Act of 2026 (Sec. 30130(c)).
How long do self-driving car companies have to file quarterly mileage reports?
The quarterly ADS mileage reporting requirement expires 5 years after the final data repository rule is issued, according to H.R. 7390 Section 30131.
Does the SELF DRIVE Act let companies charge passengers or haul freight during autonomous vehicle testing?
Yes. Under the SELF DRIVE Act of 2026 (Sec. 4), the Secretary may allow limited commercial passenger or freight operations during testing, with caps on vehicles, mileage, revenue, or time.
Which state laws are still allowed after federal self-driving car preemption in HR 7390?
According to H.R. 7390 Section 3, states still control traffic laws, registration, inspections, congestion management, insurance, consumer protection, environmental rules, and sale, repair, and service laws.
Is self-driving car crash data public under the SELF DRIVE Act?
No. Under the SELF DRIVE Act of 2026 (Sec. 30131), repository data is protected under 49 CFR Part 512 and exempt from FOIA disclosure.
Based on H.R. 7390 bill text
Full Bill Text
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