HB 353-Relating to Autonomous Vehicles

On Wednesday, November 8th, HB 353, relating to Autonomous Vehicles, by Rep. Jason Fischer (R-Jacksonville) was heard by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee and passed by a vote of 13 yeas to 0 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this bill.

This bill authorizes the use of vehicles in autonomous mode. The autonomous technology would be considered the human operator of the motor vehicle and provides that various provisions of law regarding motor vehicles such as rendering aid in the event of a crash do not apply to vehicles in autonomous mode where a human operator is not physically present as long as the vehicle owner promptly contacts law enforcement. The bill also addresses the applicability of laws regarding unattended motor vehicles and passenger restraint requirements as they relate to vehicles operating in autonomous mode where a human operator is not physically present in the vehicle.

HB 353 will now move on to the House Appropriations Committee. 

AIF SUPPORTS legislation that authorizes the use of autonomous vehicles and regulates the responsible party should there be an incident.