[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4245 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4245
To amend title 23, United States Code, to enhance roadside worker
safety, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 26, 2026
Ms. Cortez Masto (for herself and Mr. McCormick) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 23, United States Code, to enhance roadside worker
safety, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Safer Roads for Those Who Serve Act
of 2026''.
SEC. 2. FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION ROADSIDE WORKER SAFETY.
Section 148 of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)(2)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) in clause (v), by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(ii) in clause (vi), by adding ``and''
after the semicolon at the end; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(vii) to improve the collection of data
on roadside worker crashes and to differentiate
the safety data for highway workers (as defined
in section 630.1004 of title 23, Code of
Federal Regulations (or a successor
regulation)) from other road users;'';
(B) in subparagraph (B)(i), by inserting ``highway
workers (as defined in section 630.1004 of title 23,
Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor
regulation)),'' after ``pedestrians),''; and
(C) in subparagraph (D)--
(i) in clause (v), by striking ``and'' at
the end;
(ii) in clause (vi), by adding ``and''
after the semicolon at the end; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(vii) improves the ability of the State
to differentiate the fatalities and serious
injuries of highway workers (as defined in
section 630.1004 of title 23, Code of Federal
Regulations (or a successor regulation)) from
other road users;''; and
(2) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Highway workers.--If the total annual injuries and
fatalities of highway workers (as defined in section 630.1004
of title 23, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor
regulation)) in a State increases over the most recent 2-year
period for which data is available, that State shall include in
the next State strategic highway safety plan a list of
strategies to address the increases in those rates of injury
and fatality, taking into account the practices and
recommendations identified through the Work Zone Management
Program of the Federal Highway Administration.''.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION ROADSIDE WORKER
SAFETY.
(a) Highway Safety Programs.--Section 402(a)(2)(A) of title 23,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) in clause (xiii), by striking ``activated; and'' and
inserting ``activated or when construction workers, service and
utility personnel, individuals assisting disabled vehicles,
occupants of disabled vehicles, or other vehicles with hazard
warning lights or flashing lights are stopped or parked on or
next to a roadway;'';
(2) in clause (xiv), by adding ``and'' at the end; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(xv) to reduce injuries and deaths of
drivers and highway workers (as defined in
section 630.1004 of title 23, Code of Federal
Regulations (or a successor regulation))
resulting from crashes in work zones;''.
(b) National Priority Safety Programs.--Section 405(h) of title 23,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, including highway
workers (as defined in section 630.1004 of title 23, Code of
Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)),'' after
``individuals''; and
(2) in paragraph (4), in each of subparagraphs (B), (C),
and (D), by inserting ``, including highway workers (as defined
in section 630.1004 of title 23, Code of Federal Regulations
(or a successor regulation)),'' after ``individuals''.
(c) Promotion of Move Over Laws.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (referred to in this
subsection as the ``Administrator'') shall update the public
awareness materials of the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration to more fully reflect the types of vehicles and
drivers supported by State ``Move Over laws'', including law
enforcement, emergency responder services, fire and rescue
services, construction workers, drivers of utility, waste, and
recycling collection vehicles, tow truck operators, and drivers
of disabled vehicles, at incidents along roadways.
(2) Public service announcement.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the
date on which the Administrator updates the public
awareness materials of the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration under paragraph (1), the
Administrator shall carry out a public service
announcement to underscore the ways to protect roadside
workers, including law enforcement, emergency responder
services, fire and rescue services, construction
workers, drivers of utility, waste, and recycling
collection vehicles, tow truck operators, and drivers
of disabled vehicles, at incidents along roadways.
(B) Partnerships.--In carrying out the public
service announcement under subparagraph (A), the
Administrator may partner with existing work zone
safety outreach programs and cooperative efforts of the
Department of Transportation, including the Office of
Operations of the Federal Highway Administration and
its related work zone safety programs.
(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $2,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, to remain available
until expended.
SEC. 4. RESEARCH AND OUTREACH EFFORTS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Highway worker.--The term ``highway worker'' has the
meaning given the term in section 630.1004 of title 23, Code of
Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
(b) Research and Outreach.--The Secretary shall carry out research
and outreach activities to improve the safety of highway workers,
including activities addressing roadside incidents and methods to
protect highway workers through behavior-based interventions,
education, engineering solutions, and technology.
(c) Use of Existing Research and Outreach Facilities.--In carrying
out subsection (b), the Secretary shall--
(1) build on existing roadside worker safety research and
outreach programs, including studies carried out by the
Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; and
(2) use existing research and outreach facilities available
to the Secretary, including--
(A) the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center;
(B) university transportation centers established
pursuant to section 5505 of title 49, United States
Code; and
(C) the Office of Operations of the Federal Highway
Administration and its related work zone safety
programs.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2027 through 2031, to remain available until expended.
SEC. 5. ROADSIDE WORKER SAFETY IN GRANT APPLICATIONS.
(a) INFRA.--Section 117(h) of title 23, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) the extent to which the project includes measures for
the protection of highway workers (as defined in section
630.1004 of title 23, Code of Federal Regulations (or a
successor regulation)) and other road users--
``(A) during construction, including planning and
practices to reduce vehicle intrusions and to manage
speeds; and
``(B) along the highway after completion.''.
(b) Mega.--Section 6701(f)(3) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (E)(iii), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(G) whether, and the degree to which, a project
includes a work zone safety plan that describes how
highway workers (as defined in section 630.1004 of
title 23, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor
regulation)) and other road users will be protected
during construction and after completion of the
project.''.
(c) BUILD.--Section 6702(d)(4) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (D), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(E) the project has demonstrated efforts--
``(i) to protect highway workers (as
defined in section 630.1004 of title 23, Code
of Federal Regulations (or a successor
regulation)) and other road users during
construction; and
``(ii) to improve safety for highway
workers (as so defined) after completion of the
project.''.
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