Safety is Not For Sale Act

The 'Safety is Not For Sale Act' (HR7372) was forwarded by the Subcommittee to the Full Committee by Voice Vote on February 10, 2026, indicating active legislative momentum. This bill, introduced by Rep. Pallone, aims to prohibit the bundling of optional safety features with non-safety features in motor vehicle sales and requires clear disclosure of safety feature costs. The bill specifies that a person may not offer an optional safety feature unless it is offered separately from any non-safety feature or as standard trim equipment, and its cost is clearly disclosed. This bill does not involve direct federal funding or appropriations. Instead, its mechanism is regulatory, enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and allowing for actions by State Attorneys General. A violation of the act would be treated as a violation of FTC regulations regarding unfair or deceptive acts or practices. The bill's effective date is 180 days after enactment, providing a transition period for manufacturers. The impact is on sales practices and revenue models, not on government spending or grants. Structural losers are automotive manufacturers that rely on bundling safety features with higher-margin luxury or convenience packages to increase average transaction prices and profit margins. Companies like $TSLA, $HMC, $GM, $F, and $TM, which offer a range of vehicles with various trim levels and optional packages, could see a reduction in revenue per vehicle if consumers opt out of previously bundled non-safety features. $STLA, which saw a gain, may have a sales model less reliant on such bundling or may be perceived as better positioned to adapt to these changes. Recent market data shows that since the bill advanced out of subcommittee on February 10, 2026, $TSLA has declined 13% over 30 days to $352.82, and $HMC has declined 13.21% to $23.84. $GM is down 3.64% to $73.43, $F is down 5.92% to $11.61, and $TM is down 7.7% to $204.42 over the same period. In contrast, $STLA gained 2.89% to $7.48. The bill's advancement out of subcommittee suggests it has cleared an initial hurdle, but it still needs to pass the full Energy and Commerce Committee, the House, the Senate, and be signed into law by the President. The sponsor, Rep. Pallone, is a senior Democrat, which lends weight to the bill's progression. The next legislative steps involve consideration by the full House Committee on Energy and Commerce. If it passes committee, it would then proceed to a vote in the House of Representatives. Should it pass the House, it would then move to the Senate for consideration. The timeline for these steps is uncertain, but the bill's advancement out of subcommittee indicates active progress since its introduction on February 4, 2026.