Surface Transportation Reauthorization: What Comes Next?

The surface transportation reauthorization bill is a major piece of federal legislation that establishes funding and policy priorities for the nation’s transportation infrastructure. Typically reauthorized every five years, the legislation provides multiyear funding for highway and other surface transportation programs, including those supported by the Highway Trust Fund. It also establishes the rules governing which projects are eligible for federal funding and how transportation funds are distributed among states. The most recent reauthorization was enacted in 2021, making the next bill an important priority for Congress.

On May 19, 2026, U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-M0) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA) introduced H.R. 8870, the Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America’s 250th Act, also known as the BUILD America 250 Act. Following a two-day markup, the bill advanced out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee with substantial bipartisan support. However, it has not advanced further through the legislative process.

Before the bill can reach the House floor, it must also pass through the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over the revenue provisions associated with transportation funding. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has indicated that he hopes to bring the legislation to a full House vote after the November midterm elections.

The bill’s future will also depend on the outcome of the midterm elections and the next Congress’s committee leadership. Chairman Graves is retiring at the end of the 119th Congress, creating an opening for new leadership on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. If Republicans retain control of the House, Representative David Rouzer (R-NC) is expected to be a leading contender for the chairmanship. Rouzer has expressed interest in working with Larsen to advance the legislation in the next Congress. If Democrats gain control of the House, Larsen would be positioned to become chairman and has identified surface transportation reauthorization as a top priority.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate is working on its own version of the legislation through the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, chaired by Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV). On September 15, Capito told Politico reporters that she did not expect to be ready to release bill text until after the November 3 midterm elections. This timeline suggests that the Senate’s work on the legislation could extend into the post-election period.

With committee leadership potentially changing in the next Congress and both chambers still working toward advancing their respective proposals, the timeline for completing surface transportation reauthorization remains uncertain. The coming months will be critical in determining when lawmakers can move the legislation forward and whether Congress can reach an agreement on a new multiyear transportation funding and policy framework.

Bob Redding is the Automotive Service Association’s Washington, D.C., representative. He is a member of several federal and state advisory committees involved in the automotive industry.