Key Takeaways
- • The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is scheduled to markup the BUILD America 250 Act on May 21, 2026, a $580 billion, five-year surface transportation reauthorization bill covering highways, public transit, rail, and safety programs.
- • The legislation introduces new annual fees on electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid owners to bolster Highway Trust Fund revenues, while retaining most competitive grant programs from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
- • The House Energy and Commerce Committee will simultaneously markup motor vehicle safety legislation on May 21, 2026, establishing safety standards for autonomous vehicles in interstate commerce and addressing Right to Repair provisions.
- • Current surface transportation authorization expires September 30, 2026, creating a tight legislative timeline; congressional action constraints make a short-term extension likely despite bipartisan reauthorization efforts.
- • Subsequent committee action will proceed through the House Ways and Means Committee (addressing tax provisions and Highway Trust Fund revenue mechanisms) before full House consideration, followed by Senate markups across multiple committees including Environment and Public Works, Commerce, and Banking.
Summary
Congress is advancing a major multi-year surface transportation reauthorization package with two House committee markups scheduled for May 21, 2026, setting the stage for significant infrastructure legislation before current authorization expires on September 30, 2026. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will markup the BUILD America 250 Act, a $580 billion, five-year reauthorization covering highways, public transportation, rail, motor carrier safety, and hazardous materials transportation. Simultaneously, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will markup motor vehicle safety legislation that will form the safety title of the broader reauthorization bill.
The BUILD America 250 Act, released in bill text on May 17, 2026, maintains continuity with the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) by retaining most core transportation programs and competitive grant initiatives. However, it introduces significant new revenue mechanisms, most notably annual fees on electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid owners to strengthen Highway Trust Fund resources. The bill also establishes a new bridge formula program, creates federal safety standards for commercial motor vehicles equipped with autonomous driving systems for interstate commerce operation, and seeks to streamline project delivery by reducing permitting delays and consolidating duplicative programs. Additionally, the legislation includes investments in passenger and freight rail modernization and safety improvements.
The legislative timeline remains constrained despite bipartisan support for transportation reauthorization, a historically collaborative congressional priority. Following this week's committee markups, the House Ways and Means Committee will address tax provisions and funding mechanisms—including ongoing policy debates over gas tax suspension and Highway Trust Fund revenue strategies. Only after Ways and Means action will individual bill titles merge into a comprehensive reauthorization proposal for full House consideration. House leadership has not yet announced a floor action timeline.
Senate activity is expected to intensify following House committee markups. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has commenced hearings and stakeholder engagement but has not released legislative text or scheduled markups. The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and Senate Banking Committee will weigh in on vehicle safety, rail, public transit, and light-rail programs within their respective jurisdictions. The approaching September 30 expiration date and upcoming elections create uncertainty regarding whether a multi-year reauthorization will be enacted or whether Congress will resort to a temporary extension, with potential shifts in committee leadership and policy priorities if legislation is not signed into law by the deadline.
The BUILD America 250 Act, released in bill text on May 17, 2026, maintains continuity with the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) by retaining most core transportation programs and competitive grant initiatives. However, it introduces significant new revenue mechanisms, most notably annual fees on electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid owners to strengthen Highway Trust Fund resources. The bill also establishes a new bridge formula program, creates federal safety standards for commercial motor vehicles equipped with autonomous driving systems for interstate commerce operation, and seeks to streamline project delivery by reducing permitting delays and consolidating duplicative programs. Additionally, the legislation includes investments in passenger and freight rail modernization and safety improvements.
The legislative timeline remains constrained despite bipartisan support for transportation reauthorization, a historically collaborative congressional priority. Following this week's committee markups, the House Ways and Means Committee will address tax provisions and funding mechanisms—including ongoing policy debates over gas tax suspension and Highway Trust Fund revenue strategies. Only after Ways and Means action will individual bill titles merge into a comprehensive reauthorization proposal for full House consideration. House leadership has not yet announced a floor action timeline.
Senate activity is expected to intensify following House committee markups. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has commenced hearings and stakeholder engagement but has not released legislative text or scheduled markups. The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and Senate Banking Committee will weigh in on vehicle safety, rail, public transit, and light-rail programs within their respective jurisdictions. The approaching September 30 expiration date and upcoming elections create uncertainty regarding whether a multi-year reauthorization will be enacted or whether Congress will resort to a temporary extension, with potential shifts in committee leadership and policy priorities if legislation is not signed into law by the deadline.
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