Bill > HR5479

This bill establishes a pilot grant program administered by the Secretary of Transportation to help states digitize county road information and create publicly accessible road datasets. The program provides grants to states that can demonstrate a need for road digitization and have the capacity to manage a subgrant program for counties. States can use the funds to convert paper maps and records into standardized electronic geospatial formats, train personnel, and create a centralized, publicly accessible online repository of road data. Participating states must submit annual reports detailing the counties that received funding, the amount distributed, miles of roads digitized, and the status of their data integration efforts. The program is authorized to receive $20 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2031, with up to 2% of funds allocated for administrative expenses. Importantly, the bill includes a savings clause specifying that the program does not alter existing legal rights or jurisdictions regarding road ownership or access, and it includes protections for sensitive geographic information about historical or archaeological resources. The grant program is set to expire on September 30, 2031, unless Congress chooses to reauthorize it.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5479/all-info