H.R. 8717

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8717 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8717

To amend the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 to permit 
the construction of certain noise barriers with funds from the Highway 
Trust Fund, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 7, 2026

Ms. Williams of Georgia (for herself, Mr. Himes, Ms. Norton, and Mr. 
Casten) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 to permit 
the construction of certain noise barriers with funds from the Highway 
Trust Fund, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Negating Neighborhood Noise Act of 
2026''.

SEC. 2. PERMITTING USE OF HIGHWAY TRUST FUND FOR CONSTRUCTION OF 
CERTAIN NOISE BARRIERS.

Section 339(b) of the National Highway System Designation Act of 
1995 (23 U.S.C. 109 note) is amended to read as follows:
``(1) General rule.--No funds made available out of the 
Highway Trust Fund may be used to construct a Type II noise 
barrier (as defined by section 772.5 of title 23, Code of 
Federal Regulations) pursuant to subsections (h) and (i) of 
section 109 of title 23, United States Code.
``(2) Exceptions.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to 
construction or preservation of a Type II noise barrier if such 
a barrier--
``(A) was not part of a project approved by the 
Secretary before November 28, 1995;
``(B) is proposed along lands that were developed 
or were under substantial construction before approval 
of the acquisition of the rights-of-ways for, or 
construction of, the existing highway; or
``(C) as determined and applied by the Secretary, 
separates a highway or other noise corridor from a 
group of structures of which the majority of such 
structures closest to the highway or noise corridor--
``(i) are residential in nature; and
``(ii) are at least 10 years old as of the 
date of the proposal of the barrier project.''.

SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BLOCK GRANT FUNDS.

Section 133 of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (b) by adding at the end the following:
``(25) Planning, design, preservation, or construction of a 
Type II noise barrier (as described in section 772.5 of title 
23, Code of Federal Regulations) and consistent with the 
requirements of section 339(b) of the National Highway System 
Designation Act of 1995 (23 U.S.C. 109 note).''; and
(2) in subsection (c)(2) by striking ``and paragraph (23)'' 
and inserting ``, paragraph (23), and paragraph (25)''.

SEC. 4. MULTIPURPOSE NOISE BARRIERS.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Transportation shall ensure that 
a noise barrier constructed or preserved under section 339(b) of the 
National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 (23 U.S.C. 109 note) or 
with funds made available under title 23, United States Code, may be a 
multipurpose noise barrier.
(b) State Approval.--A State, on behalf of the Secretary, may 
approve accommodation of a secondary beneficial use on a noise barrier 
within a right-of-way on a Federal-aid highway.
(c) Definitions.--
(1) Multipurpose noise barrier.--The term ``multipurpose 
noise barrier'' means any noise barrier that provides a 
secondary beneficial use, including a barrier that hosts or 
accommodates renewable energy generation facilities, electrical 
transmission and distribution infrastructure, or broadband 
infrastructure and conduit.
(2) Secondary beneficial use.--The term ``secondary 
beneficial use'' means an environmental, economic, or social 
benefit in addition to highway noise mitigation.

SEC. 5. AESTHETICS.

A project sponsor constructing or preserving a noise barrier under 
section 339(b) of the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 
(23 U.S.C. 109 note) or with funds made available under title 23, 
United States Code, shall consider the aesthetics of the proposed noise 
barrier, consistent with the latest version of the Noise Barrier Design 
Handbook published by the Federal Highway Administration of the 
Department of Transportation.
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