House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Advances Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill

Overview 

On May 19, House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee leadership released the BUILD America 250 Act (BA250), a bipartisan bill that would reauthorize surface transportation programs through the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for five years. The bill seeks to authorize approximately $580 billion over fiscal years (FY) 2027 through FY 2031. 

On May 21, House T&I held a markup of BA250, during which Members of Congress offered amendments and debated the underlying legislation, before favorably advancing it to the full House for consideration. During the markup, Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI-8) introduced and then withdrew an amendment to BA250 that mirrors the BASICS Act. This tactic is used traditionally to provide floor time for members to speak in favor of a specific policy issue or priority. NADO, along with other members of the Local Officials in Transportation (LOT) Coalition, publicly endorsed the BASICS Act when it was originally introduced in February 2026. If passed, the BASICS Act, among other local and regional priorities, includes a provision that would provide dedicated planning funding for Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPOs), a key priority that NADO has advocated for.

Read the version brought to the Committee floor for markup here. 

Read the section-by-section here. 

What’s in BA250 for Regions? 

BA250 includes numerous provisions that would be positive for RTPOs, including: 

  • A new Surface Transportation Accelerator Grant program with a rural set-aside of 25% totaling $600 million a year. 
  • A 30% rural set-aside in the Safe Streets for All program 

From a project selection/consultation standpoint, there is another provision of note for both MPOs and RPOs: 

  • The Government Accountability Office is required to conduct a review of the state consultation processes with MPOs and RTPOs, and the state process for selecting projects to be obligated 

Generally, some other key provisions are: 

  • The Bridge Formula Program is increased and includes a new 25% set-aside for locally owned bridges 
  • The PROTECT program is preserved 
  • The BUILD program is preserved, including the 50% rural set-aside and no local match requirement. 
  • The Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program is increased 

Unfortunately, BA250 does not include a dedicated RTPO funding provision. NADO is continuing to advocate for its inclusion through targeted advocacy in the Senate.  

Next Steps 

The other House committees of jurisdiction responsible for surface transportation reauthorization have not yet released their respective bill texts. All texts will need to be combined before a bill can reach the full House floor. On the Senate side, there has been no announcement on when they plan to introduce bill text. 

With current surface transportation authorities expiring September 30, 2026, a near-term extension of existing authorities is likely if negotiations extend into the fall. 

NADO will continue to work to ensure regional priorities are centered in policy conversations surrounding BA250. 

Search NADO.org