S. 5336 – Uniform Vehicle Safety Standards Act of 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated August 13, 2026 at 3:03 AM UTC

The Uniform Vehicle Safety Standards Act of 2026 changes federal law so that a vehicle maker cannot be sued under common law simply for not going beyond the safety standards that already apply. It aims to make sure the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s safety rules are applied consistently across all states and to lessen the impact of such lawsuits on interstate commerce.

Key Provisions

Amends 49 U.S.C. § 30103(e) to state that manufacturers and equipment providers are exempt from common‑law liability when they fail to exceed, but do meet, the motor‑vehicle safety standards set by NHTSA.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

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

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

August 6, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

August 6, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

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

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

August 6, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued August 6, 2026

II

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5336

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

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

A BILL

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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Uniform Vehicle Safety Standards Act of 2026.

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.

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.