The DRIVE Across America Act of 2026 establishes the Cleaner TRAILS Initiative to promote zero-emission vehicles and fueling infrastructure on National Forest and National Park lands. This program requires the Forest Service and National Park Service to develop a strategy for installing charging stations, purchasing electric vehicles for their fleets, and offering shuttle services that run on clean energy. The bill also directs the Department of Energy and the Department of Transportation to expand electric vehicle charging access near airports and tourist destinations, while authorizing $1 billion in federal funding between 2027 and 2031 to support these efforts. Additionally, the legislation mandates that agreements for transportation services on federal lands give priority to providers using zero-emission vehicles and requires regular reporting to Congress on progress and spending.
The Safety and Accountability in Freight Enforcement Act creates a new category called "chameleon carriers" to identify trucking companies that repeatedly change their legal identity to avoid safety penalties, insurance hikes, or enforcement actions. To combat this, the bill requires the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to develop a specialized automated tool that analyzes business data to detect these patterns during the registration process. The legislation also mandates a study by the Government Accountability Office to estimate the number of such carriers and their impact on road safety, along with an appeals process for applicants denied registration based on the tool's findings.
The MAP Roads Act creates a pilot program that provides federal grants to states to help digitize and map county roads, directly affecting state and local transportation agencies. To receive funding, states must demonstrate they can distribute money to counties and maintain a centralized, publicly accessible online database for road data. The program prioritizes states with significant gaps in digital road records and requires that the resulting data be compatible with popular mapping platforms and updated at least once a year. Authorized funding of $20 million annually from 2026 to 2031 will support these efforts, while the bill explicitly ensures it does not change existing laws regarding road ownership or jurisdiction.
The PATH Act modifies federal funding rules for fixed guideway transit projects, such as light rail and subway lines, to better support high-growth communities. It allows agencies to use population density, population growth rates, and local development plans when forecasting how many people will use a new transit line. By updating these criteria, the bill aims to make it easier for cities with rapidly growing populations to qualify for capital investment grants. This change directly affects transit agencies and local governments seeking federal money to build or expand rail systems in expanding areas.
The FORK Act of 2026 creates a pilot program to provide grants for purchasing, retrofitting, or repairing vehicles used to deliver summer meals to children. These grants are intended for service institutions, such as schools or community organizations, and will prioritize applicants in areas with high poverty, outside major metropolitan regions, or serving many students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Each eligible recipient can receive up to $100,000 for a one-year term, with a limit of 10% of funds allowed for administrative costs. The program authorizes $1 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2029 and requires recipients to report on the number of sites served and children fed, with a final report due to Congress four years after the program begins.
This bill directs the Hawaii Department of Transportation to spend $2,000,000 from the safe routes to school fund on pedestrian safety improvements near schools. The funding is intended to install features such as all-way crosswalks and raised intersections at locations where crash data or pedestrian activity indicates a need for enhanced protection. The legislation is named in honor of Tehya Mahelona, a teenager who died in a traffic crash, and takes effect on July 1, 2026.
This bill establishes a new statewide program to certify and monitor active intelligent speed assistance systems installed in vehicles, with the goal of ensuring these safety technologies function reliably and securely. It requires the state to select a single vendor to handle the installation and maintenance of these systems while setting strict standards for their accuracy, tamper resistance, and insurance coverage. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that car manufacturers and retailers are generally not liable for accidents caused by these systems unless they intentionally or knowingly cause harm through repairs or updates. The law also allows vehicle lessors and lienholders to charge fees for removing the systems and mandates that vendors be audited annually by the Department of Transportation.
This bill requires Hawaii to add a special designation to the vehicle registration of deaf drivers to alert law enforcement officers during electronic checks. The system will display an international symbol for deafness or a specific code when an officer accesses the vehicle's information, helping to prevent dangerous misunderstandings during traffic stops. To qualify for this designation, a driver must provide certification from a licensed medical professional confirming their hearing loss meets specific decibel thresholds. The law takes effect on January 1, 2027, and restricts access to this information to authorized personnel only.
This bill, signed into law by the Governor on July 15, 2026, directs the Hawaii Department of Transportation to create a clean fuel standard for alternative fuels. The new rules must be adopted by January 1, 2028, and will establish a schedule to lower the carbon intensity of fuels used in the state. The standard aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10% below 2019 levels by 2035 and 50% by 2045. By incentivizing cleaner fuels, the legislation seeks to support economic growth, improve public health, and promote the use of waste materials and renewable energy sources.
This bill establishes the Banyan Drive Community Development District in Hawaii to revitalize the Waiakea peninsula, an area facing issues like blight and poor infrastructure. The legislation creates a special fund to provide consistent financial resources for the state agency responsible for managing the district, ensuring long-term maintenance and improvement. Under the new district, development must prioritize preserving Hawaiian cultural and historic sites while encouraging diverse land uses and private investment. The defined boundaries include lands near Wailoa River, Kalanianaole Street, and Reeds Bay, as well as Moku Ola, or Coconut Island. Ultimately, the act aims to transform the area into a center for cultural enrichment, public facilities, and sustainable economic growth.
