Negating Neighborhood Noise Act of 2026

This bill amends federal law to expand the permissible uses of federal highway funds for noise mitigation projects. It allows the Highway Trust Fund and Surface Transportation Block Grant funds to be used for the construction and preservation of specific Type II noise barriers. The legislation establishes exceptions to the general prohibition, permitting funding for barriers not part of projects approved before November 1995, or for those protecting lands developed prior to highway construction, or for established residential areas at least 10 years old. Additionally, the bill promotes the development of multipurpose noise barriers , which can offer secondary beneficial uses beyond just noise reduction. These innovative barriers could host infrastructure such as renewable energy generation facilities, electrical transmission, or broadband conduit. States are authorized to approve these secondary uses, and project sponsors are required to consider the aesthetics of proposed noise barriers, consistent with federal guidelines, to ensure they are both effective and visually appropriate.