Kentucky House Bill 7 would regulate autonomous — or self-driving — vehicle technology in the commonwealth. The House has approved the measure.
Rep. Josh Bray, R-Mount Vernon, said autonomous vehicles in Kentucky would be required to meet federal safety standards under the legislation.
“House Bill 7 would seek to establish the regulatory framework for the safe development and deployment of autonomous vehicles on Kentucky’s roadways,” said Bray, who is also the bill’s primary sponsor. “House Bill 7 provides the very prescriptive circumstances on when an AV may be deployed in Kentucky.”
Additionally, a person utilizing an autonomous vehicle would be required to submit a law enforcement interaction plan to the Transportation Cabinet and Kentucky State Police. That plan would detail how to communicate with fleet support, how to safely remove the vehicle from the roadway, and other key information.
HB 7 would also require autonomous vehicles be properly titled and registered with the state and for the owner to have a minimum $1 million liability insurance policy, Bray said.
There are two major concerns when it comes to autonomous vehicles: safety and job loss. On safety, Bray said the Transportation Cabinet believes autonomous vehicles will help prevent crashes and stimulate economic activity.
On job loss, the trucking industry is already facing a workforce shortage crisis, he said.
“Multiple studies show that the deployment of autonomous vehicles will in fact not eliminate jobs because those jobs are currently vacant,” Bray added. “… It is important within Kentucky that we try to be at the forefront of innovation.”
During debate, Rep. Chad Aull, D-Lexington, said he is concerned autonomous vehicles are vulnerable to cyber attacks and argued that a human needs to be in the vehicle for safety.
“I appreciate the sponsor’s intention of this legislation and desire to put Kentucky at the forefront of technology, but it hasn’t been thoroughly vetted,” Aull said. “We’re not ready, and I think we must prioritize safety for everyone. And I don’t think we’ve done that yet.”
House Minority Whip Rachel Roberts, D-Newport, said she agrees humans might be needed on a trial basis in autonomous vehicles. She called for a floor amendment to be added to the bill.
“What this (amendment) would do is just basically say that for this 2-year period any commercial vehicle on the roads operating as a private carriage would be required to have a credentialed human driver,” Roberts said. But the amendment failed.
Overall, Roberts said she looks forward to the day she has an autonomous vehicle, but feels like Kentucky is not ready for commercial AVs.
Rep. Steve Riley, R-Glasgow, said he understands why others are wary of autonomous vehicles, but he knows they will be beneficial to people who cannot drive due to certain medical conditions, like epilepsy.
“This gives them a chance to be a human being and to live like the rest of us do – to give them an opportunity to do things the rest of us take for granted every day,” he said.
HB 7 advanced off the House floor on Thursday by a 61-31 vote. Rep. Ryan Dotson, R-Winchester, said he voted “yes” on the legislation because he believes it’s been properly vetted to ensure safety.
“I stand here to vote ‘yes’ for Kentucky moving forward,” Dotson said. “And I do believe that this could very well be something that really puts Kentucky in a good place.”
HB 7 now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Information from the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission.
