This bill proposes several updates to the Arizona Revised Statutes regarding autonomous vehicles. It introduces new definitions for "autonomous vehicle" and "human safety operator," while also modifying the existing definition of "on-demand autonomous vehicle network" to remove the term "fully." The bill repeals section 28-9705 and adds new provisions that restrict the transportation of passengers and goods by autonomous vehicles unless a human safety operator is present to monitor and intervene if necessary. Additionally, it clarifies that counties, cities, or towns cannot impose taxes or fees on autonomous vehicles or their operators, while also ensuring that the Department of Transportation and the Department of Public Safety are the only agencies authorized to enforce these regulations.

The bill also removes previous requirements for fully autonomous vehicles to submit a law enforcement interaction plan and a written statement to the Department of Transportation before operation. It maintains that autonomous vehicles must comply with all applicable traffic laws and allows for the operation of autonomous vehicles without a human driver, provided they adhere to the new regulations. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the legal framework surrounding autonomous vehicles while ensuring safety and compliance with existing laws.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 28-9701, 28-9702, 28-9703, 28-9704, 28-9705, 28-9706, 28-9707, 28-9708, 28-8421, 28-8423, 28-8424