HB2575 - Autonomous Vehicle Act

• Permits fully autonomous vehicles (SAE level 4 or 5 systems) to operate on Illinois highways without a human operator physically present in the vehicle.

• Designates the automated driving system as the driver or operator for purposes of traffic and motor vehicle law compliance when engaged, and deems it capable of satisfying all physical acts required of a driver.

• Exempts fully autonomous vehicles from requiring a licensed human driver and exempts engaged automated driving systems from certain Illinois Vehicle Code provisions including distracted driving laws and child passenger protection requirements.

• Establishes that liability for incidents involving fully autonomous vehicles shall be determined under existing product liability law or common law negligence principles without creating new liability standards.

• Preempts home rule authority and makes autonomous vehicle regulation an exclusive state power, preventing local units of government from regulating fully autonomous vehicles that comply with state law.