SAFE Exit Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 6947 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6947 To amend title 49, United States Code, to require each new motor vehicle to be equipped with a manual door release allowing timely exit regardless of failure of any electrical system, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 6, 2026 Ms. Kelly of Illinois introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 49, United States Code, to require each new motor vehicle to be equipped with a manual door release allowing timely exit regardless of failure of any electrical system, 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 ``Securing Accessible Funtional Emergency Exit Act of 2026'' or the ``SAFE Exit Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. VEHICLE STANDARD FOR MANUAL DOOR RELEASE. (a) Manual Door Release.--Subchapter II of chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``Sec. 30130. Manual door release ``(a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary of Transportation shall issue a final rule amending Standard 206 to establish performance and labeling requirements for motor vehicles equipped with an electronic door latch system, including manufacture requirements for-- ``(1) a power independent, easy-to-find manual release for each door providing occupant egress, which shall be intuitive to use and readily accessible for the occupant; and ``(2) means for emergency responder access to the occupant compartment when vehicle electrical power is lost. ``(b) Com