RECHARGE Act

The RECHARGE Act would explicitly authorize electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure at rest areas along the Interstate Highway System. It amends title 23, U.S. Code to require the federal Secretary to permit EV charging stations at Interstate rest areas, while preserving a constraint that rights-of-way not be used for commercial activities beyond charging. In addition to this core change, the bill makes small conforming edits to related highway programs (notably CMAQ) and to a provision known as Jason’s Law, updating terminology around fueling infrastructure to reflect natural gas fueling in certain places. The intent is to help alleviate “range gaps” by making it easier for travelers to recharge EVs during interstate travel, while limiting other commercial use of the rest area rights-of-way.