HR 8717
Negating Neighborhood Noise Act of 2026
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Bill overview
This bill, the Negating Neighborhood Noise Act of 2026, amends the National Highway System Designation Act to allow the use of Highway Trust Fund dollars for the construction and preservation of certain Type II noise barriers. However, it includes exceptions for noise barriers that were already planned before 1995, are along developed land, or are located near older residential areas. The bill also clarifies that these noise barriers can be multipurpose, such as hosting renewable energy or broadband infrastructure, and requires consideration of aesthetic design.
Key provisions
- Allows use of Highway Trust Fund for Type II noise barriers.
- Exempts noise barriers already approved before 1995.
- Exempts noise barriers along developed land before 1995.
- Exempts noise barriers near older residential areas (10+ years old).
- Clarifies eligibility for surface transportation block grant funds to include noise barrier projects.
- Permits multipurpose noise barriers including renewable energy, transmission, and broadband infrastructure.
- Requires consideration of aesthetic design in noise barrier projects.
- States can approve secondary beneficial uses on noise barriers.
Who is affected
- Federal Highway Administration
- State Departments of Transportation
- Property owners near highways
- Utilities companies
- Renewable energy developers
Notable changes
- Expands the use of Highway Trust Fund dollars for noise barriers.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] Norton
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119th CONGRESS — 2d Session
H. R. 8717
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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.
This Act may be cited as the Negating Neighborhood Noise Act of 2026
.
Section 339(b) of the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995 (23 U.S.C. 109 note) is amended to read as follows:
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.
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to construction or preservation of a Type II noise barrier if such a barrier—
was not part of a project approved by the Secretary before November 28, 1995;
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
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—
are residential in nature; and
are at least 10 years old as of the date of the proposal of the barrier project.
Section 133 of title 23, United States Code, is amended—
in subsection (b) by adding at the end the following:
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).
in subsection (c)(2) by striking and paragraph (23)
and inserting , paragraph (23), and paragraph (25)
.
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.
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.
The term secondary beneficial use means an environmental, economic, or social benefit in addition to highway noise mitigation.
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.