Carmakers must stop lying about self-driving. Here's how.

What it does

This bill requires car manufacturers to stop misleading consumers about self-driving capabilities and to clearly disclose what partially automated driving systems (like lane-keeping or adaptive cruise control) can and cannot do. Buyers must receive a detailed notice before purchase explaining the system's features, limitations, and what the driver still needs to do; manufacturers must also notify owners when software updates change the system's performance. The bill gives the FTC, NHTSA, and state attorneys general power to enforce these rules and requires safety labeling on all vehicles with such systems.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core function is to mandate clear disclosure of partially automated driving system capabilities and limitations, with enforcement authority distributed across federal and state regulators. It is fundamentally a consumer-protection and truth-in-advertising measure targeting a high-risk product category.

What the text implies

• The 2-year implementation window for point-of-sale notices may allow manufacturers to continue selling vehicles with minimal disclosure during the transition period, creating a window of reduced transparency.
• Software updates that 'materially affect' performance trigger new notices, but the bill does not define 'material' — manufacturers may dispute whether updates require disclosure, creating enforcement ambiguity.
• The bill does not mandate in-vehicle warnings or real-time alerts when a partially automated system reaches its operational design domain limits; disclosure is front-loaded at sale, not continuous.
• State attorneys general can sue independently, but federal action pauses state suits against the same defendant — this may slow enforcement if the FTC or DOJ moves slowly or settles quietly.
• The Automobile Information Disclosure Act amendment requires labeling but does not specify font size, placement, or prominence — manufacturers may bury disclosures in fine print or graphics that obscure rather than clarify.

Who it affects

Ordinary consumers gain clearer, legally enforceable information about what automated driving features actually do, reducing the risk of misuse and accidents caused by overconfidence in partially automated systems. Enforcement mechanisms (FTC, NHTSA, state AGs) create accountability and deterrence against deceptive marketing.

Named in the bill

NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), FTC (Federal Trade Commission), State Attorneys General, Automobile manufacturers, Automotive dealers, Department of Transportation (SecDOT)

Where it stands

• Feb 4, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Feb 4, 2026 — Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce · Congress.gov: “Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade”
• Feb 10, 2026 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

6 lobbying clients named this bill on 6 disclosure filings across 1 quarter, Jun 2026 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $8,208,500 in lobbying spend. A filing names 21 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 82% of bills with at least one filing.

Kim Schrier, the sponsor, reported $984,999 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• General Motors Company — $3,460,000 on 1 filing
• Toyota Motor North America Inc (tma) — $1,930,500 on 1 filing
• American Honda Motor Co., Inc. — $1,477,000 on 1 filing
• National Automobile Dealers Association — $1,191,000 on 1 filing
• North American Subaru, Inc. — $100,000 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.