New bill would require Uber and Lyft to verify drivers' identity before every ride

A House bill would place new federal safety requirements on rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft, requiring them to let passengers verify their driver's identity before a trip begins and to run regular background checks on drivers.

The bill, titled Sami's Law, was introduced on October 22, 2026, by Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, joined by one cosponsor, Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York. It has only been introduced and has been referred to three House committees; it is not law.

At the center of the bill is a driver-match verification requirement. Within 180 days of the bill becoming law, the Secretary of Transportation would have to propose a rule requiring transportation network companies — the formal term for app-based rideshare platforms — to give each passenger a digital way to confirm, before the trip starts, that the driver they have been matched with is actually authorized to accept the ride. The system would have to send the passenger information specific to their assigned driver or vehicle, let the passenger, driver, and app confirm the match, and block the driver from starting the trip until both the passenger and the driver have verified each other's identity. It would also have to be usable by people with disabilities. Passengers could choose to opt out, and the requirement would not apply when a passenger opts out, when a third party arranges the ride, or when a rider's phone fails or cell service is too weak for the system to work.

To enforce the rule, the Secretary of Transportation could inspect company records and fine a company up to $5,000 for each day it is in violation, rising to up to $20,000 a day for violations found to be knowing and willful.

The bill would also set background-check rules. A company could only work with a driver who is a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident, or someone authorized to work by the Department of Homeland Security, checked through the federal E-Verify system. Before activating a driver's account, and once a year after that, the company would have to run a local and national criminal background check, including a search of the Justice Department's national sex offender registry and a nationwide criminal records database. Once a driver consents to the first check, the company could continue monitoring that driver's criminal history and immigration status without asking again. States could still require fingerprint-based checks or impose stricter requirements.

Finally, the bill would make it illegal to sell signage meant to help riders identify a rideshare vehicle if it carries a company's trademark or logo or pretends to be official — a measure aimed at fake rideshare markings. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce that provision.

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