Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB1137

Introduced
2/7/25  

Caption

No Kill Switches in Cars ActThis bill repeals a requirement that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration prescribe a federal motor vehicle safety standard that requires certain passenger vehicles to be equipped with advanced drunk and impaired driving prevention technology. Currently, there is no federal motor vehicle safety standard that requires the technology.In general, advanced drunk and impaired driving prevention technology is a passive system that (1) monitors a driver's performance to identify driver impairment, or (2) accurately detects whether a driver's blood alcohol concentration is equal to or greater than 0.08%. The system must also prevent or limit vehicle operation if the system determines the driver may be intoxicated or impaired.

Impact

The repeal of this regulation would directly affect current and future federal policies intended to enhance vehicle safety through technological means. By eliminating the requirements for advanced impaired driving technology, HB1137 reflects a significant shift away from federal oversight on vehicle technologies that aim to assist in preventing impaired driving, which may ultimately impact public safety initiatives. The bill aligns with a broader context of legislative pushback against federal regulatory authority in favor of individual freedoms and responsibilities.

Summary

House Bill 1137, titled the 'No Kill Switches in Cars Act', seeks to repeal a specific requirement established under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This requirement mandated the Secretary of Transportation to formulate regulations concerning advanced impaired driving technology. Proponents of the bill argue that the technology is an unnecessary burden on manufacturers and infringes upon consumer choice and privacy. They emphasize that the bill would prevent the potential imposition of systems that could immobilize vehicles, which they consider intrusive and potentially dangerous in certain scenarios.

Contention

The bill has raised significant concern among safety advocates and organizations dedicated to reducing impaired driving incidents. Critics argue that the removal of such regulations could undermine efforts to improve road safety and reduce accidents related to impaired driving. There is a clear divide in opinion, with supporters framing the issue as one of consumer rights and autonomy, while opponents express fears about the potential rise in impaired driving occurrences if no measures are in place to combat this issue effectively.

Congress_id

119-HR-1137

Policy_area

Transportation and Public Works

Introduced_date

2025-02-07

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US HR1614

Expressing support for the recognition of December 2024 as "National Impaired Driving Prevention Month", and promoting efforts to help prevent tragic and preventable crashes, deaths, and injuries caused by impaired driving.

US HJR192

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration entitled "Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; Automatic Emergency Braking Systems for Light Vehicles".

US HB471

Safer Highways and Increased Performance for Interstate Trucking Act or the SHIP IT Act This bill expands programs and special permits for trucks and truck drivers. Specifically, a state may issue a special permit for certain overweight vehicles based on a Presidential major disaster declaration or a Department of Transportation (DOT) declaration (1) of an emergency (including non-natural or financial), or (2) that the United States supply chain is having issues. Currently, a state may issue a special permit only based on a Presidential major disaster declaration. DOT must also, subject to the availability of funds, award competitive grants to construct or improve commercial vehicle parking facilities. Under the bill, the Department of Labor must provide Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act grants for entry level commercial motor vehicle driver training. The bill also establishes a limited tax credit, adjusted annually based on inflation, for eligible commercial driver's license holders. Further, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration must revise certain regulations related to commercial driver's license testing and permits, including to allow a third-party examiner to administer commercial driver's license tests. DOT must also establish a pilot program allowing states to issue permits for qualifying vehicles with six axles or more operating at greater than 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight on a state's Interstate System. (Generally, the federal commercial vehicle weight limit is 80,000 pounds, with some exceptions.) The bill also exempts the battery weight from the gross vehicle weight for certain commercial motor vehicles powered primarily by electric battery power. Finally, existing driving time exemptions are expanded for truck drivers transporting agricultural commodities and farm supplies within a 150-mile radius.

US HB8400

Early Detection of Vision Impairments for Children Act of 2024

US SB5506

A bill to direct the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate a Federal motor vehicle safety standard to reduce the incidence of child injury and death occurring during low-speed incidents involving motor vehicles, and for other purposes.

US SB4299

She DRIVES Act She Develops Regulations In Vehicle Equality and Safety Act

US HB10051

Driver Technology and Pedestrian Safety Act of 2024

US SB5539

A bill to require systematic review of artificial intelligence systems before deployment by the Federal Government, and for other purposes.

US HB326

No Subsidies for Government Purchases of Electric Vehicles Act This bill disallows a tax credit for qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles that are sold to the federal government or a state government.

US HB220

Advanced Aviation Act This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to redesignate the Office of NextGen as the Office of Advanced Aviation within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The new office duties include the coordination of rulemaking and approval processes on matters relating to advanced aviation systems (e.g., drones, supersonic aircraft technologies, counter-unmanned aircraft systems). The bill also establishes an Office of Advanced Integration within the Office of Advanced Aviation. Additionally, DOT must establish an Advanced Aviation Coordination Unit within the FAA whose responsibilities shall include the promotion of the safe and responsible integration of advanced aviation systems into the national airspace system. Further, DOT must redesignate the William J. Hughes Technical Center as the William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aviation. The center must establish and manage a program to evaluate new aviation-related technologies proposed to be used in the national airspace system and facilitate the integration of such technologies into the national airspace system.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.