Bill > HR3663

This bill establishes new requirements for bridges over navigable waters that were built before 1996, which are defined as "covered bridges". The bill mandates that owners of these bridges must conduct vessel collision vulnerability assessments using the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Method II and submit the results to the Secretary of Transportation. If a covered bridge's assessment exceeds AASHTO's risk threshold, the owner must develop and implement a risk reduction plan within one year. Starting October 1, 2026, bridge owners who fail to develop or implement such a plan will be ineligible for federal grants related to that bridge. The bill also requires the Secretary of Transportation to integrate assessment results into the National Bridge Inventory while protecting sensitive security data. Additionally, the bill establishes an interdisciplinary bridge safety team within the Department of Transportation to provide guidance and maintain a national bridge vulnerability database. A new competitive grant program is created to provide $500 million from fiscal years 2026-2030 to help bridge owners conduct assessments and make physical improvements to covered bridges. Owners must submit applications to be considered for these grants, which can be used for assessments or bridge improvements.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3663/all-info