CS/HB 353: Autonomous Vehicles

• Defines autonomous vehicles as those equipped with automated driving systems at SAE Level 3, 4, or 5, and fully autonomous vehicles as Level 4 or 5 systems per SAE International Standard J3016 (Revised September 2016)

• Allows fully autonomous vehicles to operate without a licensed human operator physically present and designates the automated driving system as the operator for legal purposes when operating in autonomous mode

• Exempts autonomous vehicles operating in autonomous mode from prohibitions on active display of television/video and allows operators to use wireless communications devices without violating distraction laws

• Requires all fully autonomous vehicles to carry minimum liability insurance of $500,000 combined or at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident for bodily injury, plus $50,000 for property damage; commercial autonomous vehicles used by transportation network companies must carry $2 million in liability coverage

• Preempts local government regulation of autonomous vehicles and technology; creates exemptions from crash reporting requirements for fully autonomous vehicles that promptly report crashes or have crash alert capability