UPDATED: In an effort to address commercial truck driver shortages and support a growing economy, House Bill 7 saw final passage in the Senate Thursday to allow autonomous vehicles (AVs) to operate in the Commonwealth.
Sponsored by Representative Josh Bray, House Bill 7 passed with a committee substitute that featured language requiring a human driver be present in autonomous semi-trucks for the first two years after the bill would take effect, among other technical changes.
A similar bill passed the House and Senate in the 2023 legislative session but fell short of becoming law after Governor Andy Beshear issued a veto.
Bray said his bill provides prescriptive circumstances when an AV may be deployed in Kentucky.
“It must pass or surpass federal safety standards, and any company deploying an AV in Kentucky must first submit an interaction plan to law enforcement that tells officers exactly how to contact fleet support, recognize that the AV is autonomous on the road, and how to remove it from the roadway,” Bray said on the House floor.
Bray also emphasized how important the legislation was for Kentucky to remain competitive, citing that at least 28 states have enacted similar AV legislation, including South Dakota, whose governor signed an AV bill into law earlier this week.
“It’s important within Kentucky that we try to be at the forefront of innovation, and it’s important that we think long-term about logistics and how we’re going to move freight as economic growth expands, and we have fewer workers to do it,” Bray said.
The bill now moves to the Governor’s desk for his consideration.
Watch a interview with Bray on the issue here.
Stay tuned to The Bottom Line for more updates throughout the 2024 session.
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