hold on there's just too much going on in Congress lmao...
Mandates new safety guards on large trucks to prevent underride crashes.
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) and co-sponsors.
Introduced in the House, awaiting committee review.
This bill, sponsored by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) and others, aims to prevent fatal underride crashes by requiring new trailers and trucks to install protective guards on their sides. It has been introduced in the House of Representatives and assigned to a committee, meaning it's in the early stages of the legislative process and has not yet been voted on by the full House.
Introduced Feb 4, 2026
The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on February 4, 2026, and referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. For it to become law, it must pass this committee, then be voted on by the full House, then pass the Senate, and finally be signed by the President.
If this bill passes, new large trailers and trucks would be equipped with side underride guards designed to prevent cars and vulnerable road users (like pedestrians or cyclists) from sliding underneath during a crash. This could lead to a significant reduction in fatalities and serious injuries from certain types of truck accidents. Additionally, the government would create a new publicly accessible website providing research and information on underride crashes, increasing transparency and awareness.
Supporters Say
This bill would prevent thousands of deaths and injuries from devastating underride truck crashes.
Critics Say
The bill text does not explicitly state any criticisms or arguments against it.
Supporters argue that requiring underride guards on the sides of large trucks is a vital step to prevent catastrophic and often fatal crashes where vehicles or people slide underneath trucks. They point to the thousands of lives lost and injuries sustained due to these preventable incidents. The bill text does not include specific arguments from critics or opponents of the proposed legislation.