A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to allow the introduction of certain noncompliant motor vehicle equipment in interstate commerce for testing purposes, and for other purposes.
Key claim: A Senate bill proposes amending title 49 of the U.S. Code to permit noncompliant motor vehicle equipment to enter interstate commerce for testing purposes.
Abstract
(S4679 · 119th Congress) Latest action (2026-06-03): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Why this matters
A narrow statutory carve-out for testing purposes would let manufacturers and researchers ship equipment that does not yet meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards across state lines, easing R&D logistics for new safety technologies and autonomous vehicle components. The practical safety effect depends on how tightly the exemption is scoped—whether testing is confined to closed courses or extends to public roads—which the bill text will clarify as it moves through committee.