Congress Moves to Set National Rules for Self-Driving Cars

Lawmakers push autonomous vehicle legislation to compete with China and establish U.S. as global leader in self-driving tech.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The House Energy and Commerce Committee has advanced the SELF DRIVE Act, a piece of legislation that would create federal safety standards for autonomous vehicles (AVs) governed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The bill aims to fill in gaps on public and passenger safety as the technology continues to advance rapidly, and would also establish a uniform set of definitions for different levels of assisted driving. Supporters believe a federal framework will help the U.S. compete with China and reinforce its position as a global leader in AV development and manufacturing.

Why it matters

As companies like Waymo have already deployed fleets of self-driving cars in cities across the U.S., there is currently no federal framework for autonomous vehicles. This legislation seeks to establish national safety standards and definitions to provide clarity and oversight as the technology continues to evolve, while also positioning the U.S. to compete globally in the AV space.

The details

The SELF DRIVE Act would create federal safety standards for AV manufacturers that would be required by September 2027 and governed by NHTSA. It would also establish uniform definitions for different levels of autonomous driving. Additionally, the bill allows for limited automated driving testing in commercial vehicles.

  • The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced the SELF DRIVE Act in a 12–11 vote on Tuesday, February 10, 2026.
  • The federal safety standards required by the bill would be in place by September 2027.

The players

Rep. Bob Latta

The Republican Congressman from Ohio who sponsored the SELF DRIVE Act.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

The federal agency that would govern the safety standards for autonomous vehicles under the SELF DRIVE Act.

Waymo

An American autonomous driving company that has already deployed fleets of self-driving cars in cities across the U.S.

Tesla Inc.

An electric vehicle and clean energy company that expressed support for the SELF DRIVE Act.

Honda Motor Company

An automaker that commended the efforts to advance the SELF DRIVE Act.

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What they’re saying

“There is currently no federal framework for autonomous vehicles, even as the technology continues to advance at a rapid pace. It is critical that we prioritize safety, transparency and innovation while keeping up with these developments.”

— Rep. Bob Latta (foxnews.com)

“By strengthening America's role in developing and regulating the autonomous vehicle safety framework, the United States has an opportunity to set the global standard for AV safety. Doing so will ensure innovation continues to thrive here at home, keep high-quality jobs in America and reinforce our position as a global leader in autonomous vehicle development and manufacturing, especially as we compete with China.”

— Rep. Bob Latta (foxnews.com)

“The SELF DRIVE Act would establish a clear national framework for the deployment of autonomous vehicles that will save American lives and unlock significant growth in U.S. manufacturing.”

— Tesla Inc. (foxnews.com)

“Honda commends Latta's efforts to advance the SELF-DRIVE Act for 2026 to establish a single national standard for automated vehicle technology.”

— Jennifer Thomas, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Honda Motor Company (foxnews.com)

What’s next

Having cleared consideration in committee, it's unclear when the SELF DRIVE Act may reach the floor for a chamber-wide vote.

The takeaway

This legislation aims to provide much-needed federal oversight and standards for the rapidly evolving autonomous vehicle industry, while also positioning the U.S. to compete globally with countries like China in the development and manufacturing of self-driving technologies.