August 6, 2026
Mrs. Fischer (for herself and Ms. Lummis) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
To amend title 49, United States Code, to prohibit liability at common law for failure to manufacture or equip a motor vehicle to an extent that exceeds applicable motor vehicle safety standards, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Uniform Vehicle Safety Standards Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Purposes
The purposes of this Act are—
(1)
to ensure the uniform application of motor vehicle safety standards prescribed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration pursuant to chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code; and
(2)
to relieve the unreasonable burden on interstate commerce of allowing suits at common law to supplant such motor vehicle safety standards.
Sec. 3. Prohibition on liability based on failure to exceed applicable motor vehicle safety standards
Section 30103(e) of title 49, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
by striking does not exempt
and inserting shall exempt
; and
(2)
by inserting for failure to exceed such standard
after common law
.