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S. 5181Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

MAP Roads Act

Sponsored by John R. CurtisSen. John R. Curtis (R-UT)
Introduced July 30, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated August 6, 2026 at 2:51 AM UTC

The MAP Roads Act directs the Secretary of Transportation to create a pilot grant program that helps states digitize county road records and build publicly‑accessible road data sets. The program aims to improve rural commerce, public safety, and navigation by converting paper maps into standardized geospatial data. It provides funding to states, which then sub‑grant to counties and maintain a statewide online repository of the road data.

Key Provisions

  • Within 180 days of enactment, the Secretary must launch a pilot program that offers grants to states for county‑road digitization projects.
  • States must apply showing they can manage sub‑grants to counties and operate a statewide data repository; priority is given to states with large gaps in digitized road data and a commitment to shared data standards.
  • Grant funds may be used by counties to digitize road records, convert old maps to geospatial formats, and train or hire staff/contractors for the work.
  • Each participating state must host a centralized, publicly‑accessible website for the road data, keep it updated at least annually, and ensure compatibility with third‑party mapping platforms.
  • States receiving grants must report annually for three years on sub‑grant distribution, miles digitized, repository status, and program recommendations.
  • The law authorizes up to $20 million per fiscal year from 2026 through 2031 (with a maximum of 2% for administration) and the grant authority ends on September 30, 2031.

Legislative Activity

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SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

July 30, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

July 30, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

July 30, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued July 30, 2026

II

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5181

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 30, 2026

Mr. Curtis (for himself and Mr. Kelly) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

A BILL

To require the Secretary of Transportation to establish a grant program relating to the digitization of county roads and the creation of publicly accessible road datasets, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Modernizing Access to Public Roads Act or MAP Roads Act.

2.

Establishment of county road access and mapping pilot program

(a)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

County

The term county has meaning given the term in section 101 of title 23, United States Code.

(2)

County road

The term county road means a public road (as defined in section 101 of title 23, United States Code) that is recognized and maintained by a county government.

(3)

Digitization

The term digitization means the process of converting physical or analog map-based information into standardized electronic formats to produce geospatial data.

(4)

Geospatial data

The term geospatial data has the meaning given the term in section 752 of the Geospatial Data Act of 2018 (43 U.S.C. 2801).

(5)

Program

The term program means the pilot program established under subsection (b).

(6)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Transportation.

(b)

Establishment

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a pilot program to provide grants to States to support rural commerce, increase public safety, and improve public access and navigation by funding the digitization of county roads and the creation of centralized, publicly accessible road datasets.

(c)

Application

(1)

In general

To be eligible to receive a grant under the program, a State shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such form, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

(2)

Requirement

An application submitted under paragraph (1) shall demonstrate the capacity of the State to administer—

(A)

a subgrant program to distribute funds to counties; and

(B)

a statewide repository for county road data.

(3)

Priority

In selecting an application for a grant under the program, the Secretary shall give priority to an application in which the applicant State—

(A)

identifies a significant deficiency in digitized county roads within the State; and

(B)

expresses a commitment to coordinating with counties to create shared geospatial data standards.

(d)

Use of funds

(1)

County activities

Funds distributed to counties under the program may be used—

(A)

to digitize official county road records;

(B)

to convert paper maps or outdated formats to standardized geospatial datasets; and

(C)

to train personnel or hire contractors to assist in data creation and conversion.

(2)

State repository

The State department of transportation of each State participating in the program shall—

(A)

serve as the centralized data repository for all road data produced by counties in the applicable State under the program;

(B)

ensure that such data—

(i)

is published on a publicly accessible website;

(ii)

is organized in a manner that distinguishes between public and private roads;

(iii)

is compatible with third-party mapping platforms; and

(iv)

is updated not less frequently than annually; and

(C)

to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate with Federal agencies and mapping authorities to align data formats and metadata.

(e)

Reporting requirements

Not later than 180 days after the establishment of the program, and annually thereafter for 3 years, each State awarded a grant under the program shall submit to the Secretary a report, which shall include, with respect to the period of time since the previous report—

(1)

a list of counties that received a subgrant;

(2)

the amount of funding distributed to each county;

(3)

the number of miles of county roads digitized under the program;

(4)

the status of State repository development and data integration efforts; and

(5)

any recommendations for improvement or expansion of the program.

(f)

Savings provision

Nothing in this Act—

(1)

confers any new authority on a county or State to declare, designate, or assert jurisdiction over a road as a county road where such designation or jurisdiction does not otherwise exist under applicable State or local law;

(2)

alters, affects, or determines the legal status of any road for purposes of ownership, jurisdiction, or public access; or

(3)

limits or expands any existing rights, claims, or defenses relating to road ownership, rights-of-way, or public access under Federal, State, or local law.

(g)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this Act permits the public disclosure of geographic information system data regarding the nature, location, character, or ownership of historic, paleontological, or archaeological resources that is protected under any other provision of law.

(h)

Authorization of appropriations

(1)

In general

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031, to remain available until expended.

(2)

Administrative expenses

Of the amounts made available to carry out the program for each fiscal year, the Secretary may use not more than 2 percent to administer the program.

(i)

Sunset

The authority to make grants under this section shall terminate on September 30, 2031.