H.R. 8692 — SAM Act of 2026

This section establishes the Accelerating Innovative Mobility Grant Program under which the Secretary may award competitive grants to eligible recipients and their private partners for projects deploying new buses equipped with level 3–5 automated driving systems. It authorizes $60 million for FY2027 (available through FY2030) and $40 million for FY2028 (available through FY2031), reserves at least 15 percent for rural projects, caps the federal share at 80 percent, and permits in-kind contributions and combination with other federal funds. It expands the definition of bus rapid transit projects to include major automated driving system changes, defines covered shared mobility vehicles and automated driving systems, and includes related software and updates within the definition of rolling stock.

This section requires the Secretary to maintain one facility for testing new bus models other than covered shared mobility vehicles and to establish and maintain, by January 1, 2027, at least one additional facility for testing new covered shared mobility vehicles at a location conducting substantial automated driving systems validation testing. It requires testing prior to delivery and acceptance, updates cost-sharing and fee rules for multiple facilities, directs the Secretary to maintain a final rule with a weighted aggregate scoring system and pass/fail standard developed in collaboration with facilities, manufacturers, and transit agencies, clarifies that scores do not constitute warranties, and requires issuance or modification of regulations within 180 days.

This section expands eligible uses under five transportation grant programs to permit acquisition (including by license) and updates of software for automated driving systems and autonomous vehicle operation or monitoring. The programs are the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation grants, Fixed Guideway Capital Investment Grants, Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities, National Infrastructure Project Assistance, and Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grants.