Review – HR 7390 Introduced - SELF DRIVE Act

Last month Rep Latta (R,OH) introduced HR 7390, the Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research In Vehicle Evolution (SELF DRIVE) Act of 2026. The bill would require the establishment of motor vehicle safety standards for automated driving systems. No new funding is authorized.

I could find no legislation in the 118^th Congress that would appear to be similar to HR 7390, but there was a similarly titled bill (HR 3711) introduced in the 117th Congress by Latta, but it was substantially different from this bill. No action was taken in the House on the earlier bill.

The bill would add two new sections to 49 USC Chapter 301:

§30130. Motor vehicle safety standards for automated driving systems, and

§30131. National Automated Vehicle Safety Data Repository

The proposed §30130 includes cybersecurity requirements.

Moving Forward

On February 10^th, 2026 the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade of the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a business meeting where HR 7390 was considered. Three amendments were offered and withdrawn. The Subcommittee voted 12 to 11 to refer the bill favorably to the full Committee.

 

For more information about the cybersecurity provisions of this bill, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/hr-7390-introduced-self-drive-act - subscription required.

Review - HR 3711 Introduced – SELF DRIVE Act

Last month Rep Latta (R,OH) introduce HR 3711, the Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research In Vehicle Evolution (SELF DRIVE) Act. The bill clarifies “the Federal role in ensuring the safety of highly automated vehicles as it relates to design, construction, and performance, by encouraging the testing and deployment of such vehicles”. It includes one section concerning cybersecurity of automated driving systems and two cybersecurity mentions in passing. This bill is very similar to HR 8350 that was introduced last September but went nowhere during the closing days of the 116^th Congress.

While Latta is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the primary of three committees to which this bill was referred for consideration, the fact that all eleven of his cosponsors are Republicans would seem to indicate that this is a partisan bill. I do not expect to see this bill considered in Committee, nor do I expect to see it reach the floor of the House.

As important as this topic is quickly becoming, Latta is going to have to work out a bipartisan plan for the regulation of automated vehicles.

For more detailed analysis of cybersecurity provisions, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/hr-3711-introduced - subscription required.

Bills Introduced – 6-4-21

Yesterday with just the House meeting in pro forma session, there were 68 bills introduced. Five of those bills may receive additional coverage in this blog:

HR 3684 To authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs, and for other purposes. Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4]

HR 3691 To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to establish a smart wastewater infrastructure technology grant program, and for other purposes. Rep. Bourdeaux, Carolyn [D-GA-7]

HR 3701 To establish water infrastructure grant programs. Rep. Delgado, Antonio [D-NY-19] 

HR 3711 To amend title 49, United States Code, regarding the authority of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over highly automated vehicles, to provide safety measures for such vehicles, and for other purposes. Rep. Latta, Robert E. [R-OH-5]

HR 3713 To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue guidance with respect to space systems, services, and technology as critical infrastructure, and for other purposes. Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-33]

I will be watching HR 3684 for language addressing transportation cybersecurity and chemical transportation safety or security issues. I will almost certainly continue to follow this bill through the legislative process for potential amendments addressing the same.

I will be watching both HR 3691 and HR 3701 for language and definitions indicating that cybersecurity technology funding is specifically covered by the respective grant programs.

I will be watching HR 3713 for language or definitions that indicate the required guidance will specifically address control system security issues.

I will be following HR 3711.