February 4, 2026
Mr. Pallone introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
To ensure that lifesaving motor vehicle safety features are offered independently of convenience and luxury features, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Safety is Not For Sale Act
.
Sec. 2. Prohibition on certain sales practices with respect to optional safety features for motor vehicles
(a) Prohibition
(1) In general
A person may not offer for sale or lease to a first purchaser an optional safety feature unless such person—
(A)
offers such optional safety feature for sale or lease—
(i)
separately from any non-safety feature; or
(ii)
as standard trim equipment; and
(B)
clearly and conspicuously discloses to the first purchaser the cost of the optional safety feature separately from any non-safety feature.
(2) Effective date
Paragraph (1) shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Enforcement by Commission
(1) Unfair or deceptive acts or practices
A violation of subsection (a) shall be treated as a violation of a regulation under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)) regarding unfair or deceptive acts or practices.
(2) Powers of Commission
The Commission shall enforce subsection (a) in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act were incorporated into and made a part of this Act.
(3) Rule of construction
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit the authority of the Commission under any other law.
(c) Actions by States
(1) In general
Except as provided in paragraph (6), in any case in which the attorney general of a State has reason to believe that an interest of the residents of that State has been or is threatened or adversely affected by an act or practice in violation of subsection (a), or a regulation promulgated under such subsection, the State, as parens patriae, may bring a civil action on behalf of the residents of the State in an appropriate district court of the United States or other court of competent jurisdiction to—
(A)
enjoin that practice;
(B)
enforce compliance with such subsection, or such regulation;
(C)
obtain civil penalties;
(D)
obtain damages, restitution, or other compensation on behalf of residents of the State; and
(E)
obtain such other legal and equitable relief as the court may consider to be appropriate.
(2) Rights of Commission
(A) Notice
(i) In general
Except as provided in clause (iii), the attorney general of a State shall notify the Commission in writing that the attorney general intends to bring a civil action under paragraph (1) by not later than 60 days before initiating the civil action.
(ii) Contents
The notification required by clause (i) with respect to a civil action shall include a copy of the complaint to be filed to initiate the civil action.
(iii) Exception
If it is not feasible for the attorney general of a State to provide the notification required by clause (i) before initiating a civil action under paragraph (1), the attorney general shall notify the Commission immediately upon instituting the civil action.
(B) Intervention
Upon receiving the notice required by subparagraph (A), the Commission shall have the right—
(i)
to intervene in the action; and
(ii)
upon so intervening—
(I)
to be heard on all matters arising therein; and
(II)
to file petitions for appeal.
(3) Investigatory powers; savings provision
Nothing in this subsection may be construed to—
(A)
prevent the attorney general of a State from exercising the powers conferred on the attorney general by the laws of the State to conduct investigations, to administer oaths or affirmations, or to compel the attendance of witnesses or the production of documentary or other evidence; or
(B)
prohibit the attorney general of a State, or other authorized State officer, from proceeding in State or Federal court on the basis of an alleged violation of any civil or criminal statute of that State.
(4) Limitation on state action while Federal action is pending
If the Commission or the Attorney General of the United States has instituted a civil action for violation of this Act (referred to in this subparagraph as the Federal action
), no State attorney general, official, or agency may bring an action under this subsection during the pendency of the Federal action against any defendant named in the complaint in the Federal action for any violation of such subsection alleged in such complaint.
(5) Award of costs and fees
If a State prevails in any civil action under paragraph (1), the State may recover reasonable costs and attorney fees.
(d) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Commission
The term Commission means the Federal Trade Commission.
(2) First purchaser; manufacturer; motor vehicle; motor vehicle equipment
The terms first purchaser, manufacturer, motor vehicle, and motor vehicle equipment have the meanings given those terms in section 30102 of title 49, United States Code.
(3) Motor vehicle model
The term motor vehicle model means a class of motor vehicles—
(A)
of the same type and make; and
(B)
that share a high degree of commonality in design and construction.
(4) Motor vehicle trim
The term motor vehicle trim means a class of motor vehicles—
(A)
of the same type, make, and motor vehicle model, but not identical to the motor vehicle model; and
(B)
that share a high degree of commonality in design and construction.
(5) Non-safety feature
The term non-safety feature means optional motor vehicle equipment that is not standard model equipment or an optional safety feature.
(6) Optional safety feature
The term optional safety feature means motor vehicle equipment that—
(A)
is not standard model equipment; and
(B)
either—
(i)
performs the lateral or longitudinal (but not both simultaneously) vehicle motion control subtasks of the dynamic driving task with the expectation that the driver monitors the system to execute a response to an object or event when necessary;
(ii)
alerts the driver—
(I)
if there is an unreasonable risk of a collision;
(II)
to maintain the lane of travel; or
(III)
if the driver is operating the motor vehicle in a way that indicates the driver may be distracted, disengaged, fatigued, intoxicated, or otherwise impaired;
(iii)
improves illumination of the roadway;
(iv)
enhances the view of the driver of the roadway;
(v)
alerts emergency services after a crash of the motor vehicle is detected; or
(vi)
performs such other safety functions as the Commission, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, determines appropriate.
(7) Standard model equipment
The term standard model equipment means motor vehicle equipment installed in each motor vehicle within a motor vehicle model, regardless of the motor vehicle trim.
(8) Standard trim equipment
The term standard trim equipment means motor vehicle equipment installed in each motor vehicle of a motor vehicle trim.