LIGHT Safety Act

119th Congress Introduced by Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

LIGHT Safety Act directs a final rule within a year to cap low beam headlamp brightness (lumens or equivalent) to reduce glare.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.

Summary of HR 7772 (119th Congress) – LIGHT Safety Act

Purpose

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to revise federal motor vehicle safety standards to set a maximum allowable brightness for low beam headlamps on motor vehicles.

The bill aims to reduce glare and improve safety during nighttime driving by ensuring low beam headlights stay within a specified brightness range.

Key Provisions

Section 2: Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment

(a) General obligation: Within one year after enactment, the Secretary of Transportation must issue a final rule amending Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108 (49 C.F.R. 571.108) to establish a maximum brightness standard for low beam headlamps.
The brightness standard must be expressed in lumens or another appropriate photometric measurement determined by the Secretary.

Section 2: Secretary Defined

Clarifies that “Secretary” refers to the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Scope and Standard

The bill does not specify the exact lumen limit or measurement method in the text provided; it mandates that the rule establish a maximum allowable brightness for low beam headlamps and select an appropriate metric (lumens or an equivalent photometric measure).

The rulemaking deadline is one year from enactment for issuing a final rule.

Affected Parties

Primary: Vehicle manufacturers and equipment suppliers subject to FMVSS No. 108.

Regulators: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Department of Transportation.

General Public: Motorists who use vehicles with low beam headlamps, potentially reducing glare and improving nighttime driving safety.

Procedural/Timelines

Introduces an expedited rulemaking requirement: final rule on the low-beam brightness standard to be issued within one year after enactment.

Initial stage includes referral to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce in the House; subcommittee referral to the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit occurred on March 4, 2026.

The act is named the Limiting Intense Glare for Highway and Two-lane Safety Act (LIGHT Safety Act).

Practical Impact (anticipated)

Establishing a brightness cap for low beam headlights could limit excessive glare from certain headlamp designs and technologies.

Manufacturers may need to adjust headlamp photometry (lumen output and/or distribution) to comply with the new standard.

Potential downstream effects on headlamp design standards, testing procedures, and compliance timelines.

Status

Introduced March 3, 2026.

Referred to the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure and Energy and Commerce, with subcommittee consideration indicated.

Co-sponsored by Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.