This bill prevents the Department of Transportation from doing business with companies that use certain foreign-made laser scanning technology called LiDAR. LiDAR is a sensor that uses light to create detailed 3D maps and is increasingly used in self-driving cars, infrastructure inspection, and mapping projects. The law specifically targets LiDAR technology from countries considered adversaries to the United States and from certain foreign companies that make this technology.

Starting June 30, 2026, any company wanting a contract with the Transportation Department or federal grant money must certify they won't use the banned LiDAR technology in their work. This applies to both direct government purchases and any projects funded with federal transportation dollars. The Secretary of Transportation can make exceptions in rare cases if they believe it's in the national interest, but they have to notify Congress at least 15 days before approving any waiver.

The law doesn't apply to vehicle safety testing, research, or training programs, and it carves out some specific safety-related applications. Essentially, this is a national security measure designed to keep potentially vulnerable foreign technology out of U.S. transportation infrastructure projects, though it could affect companies and projects that rely on this particular type of sensor technology.