Summary of Original VersionCreate various sections of KRS Chapter 186 to establish a regulatory framework for the operation of fully autonomous vehicles on public highways; define terms; establish requirements for autonomous vehicles and automated driving systems; require submission of a law enforcement interaction plan with the Transportation Cabinet and the Kentucky State Police and identify required elements of the plan; establish requirements for proof of insurance or self-insurance in the amount of $1 million for death or bodily injury and property damage for personal and commercial fully autonomous vehicles; require titling and registration of fully autonomous vehicles; establish the Transportation Cabinet as the sole agency responsible for administering statutes and regulations regarding fully autonomous vehicles; limit the regulatory authority of local governments in regard to the operation of fully autonomous vehicles; amend KRS 186.410 to establish that when an automated driving system is installed and engaged on a motor vehicle, the owner of a fully autonomous vehicle shall be considered operator of the vehicle for the purpose of assessing compliance with traffic or motor vehicle laws, and that the automated driving system is considered to be the licensed to operate the vehicle; create a new section of KRS Chapter 189 to exempt fully autonomous vehicles designed to be operated exclusively by an automated driving system from any vehicle equipment requirements of KRS 189.020 to KRS 189.205 that relate to vehicle operation by a human driver; amend KRS 189.635 to establish responsibility for the filing of accident reports and notification of law enforcement after accidents involving fully autonomous vehicles; amend KRS 281.010 to define terms relating to the operation of fully autonomous vehicles as motor carriers; amend KRS 281.630 to establish that any administrative regulations promulgated by the department that apply only to a human driver shall not apply to a fully autonomous vehicle; amend KRS 281.764 to require only the lead vehicle in a truck platoon to have a human driver behind the wheel of their vehicle; amend KRS 281.655 to establish minimum insurance requirements fully autonomous vehicles operating under a certificate issued under KRS Chapter 281 in the amount of $1 million for death or bodily injury and property.
Summary of Amendment: House Committee Substitute 1Summary
Retain original provisions, except amend the definition of "SAE J3016" to include amendments to the standards; allow a person to operate a motor vehicle equipped with an automated driving system when the system achieves a minimal risk condition; provide that from the effective date of the Act until July 31, 2026, any fully autonomous vehicle for which the declared gross weight is more than 62,000 pounds shall be required to have an appropriately credentialed human driver in the vehicle to monitor the automated driving system and intervene if necessary; Section 14 of the Act, regarding platooning vehicles, EFFECTIVE August 1, 2026.
Summary of Amendment: House Floor Amendment 1 -- J. BlantonSummary
Expand two-year requirement for a human driver in a fully autonomous vehicle to all commercial motor vehicles.
Summary of Amendment: House Floor Amendment 2 -- A. CamuelSummary
Retain provisions of the original bill, except prohibit the operation of any fully autonomous vehicle engaged in business, commercial, or industrial activity, without an appropriately credentialed human driver in the vehicle to monitor the automated driving system and intervene if necessary; remove changes that would allow trail vehicles in a platoon to operate without a human driver behind the wheel.
Summary of Amendment: House Floor Amendment 3 -- A. CamuelSummary
Prohibit school districts from using fully autonomous vehicles as school buses or as any other vehicle to transport students.
Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 1 -- J. TurnerSummary
Limit the operation of autonomous motor vehicles without a human driver to public highways within a five mile radius of a commercial airport.
Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 2 -- J. TurnerSummary
Extend the requirement for a human driver on commercial vehicles in excess of 62,000 pounds from July 31, 2026 to July 31, 2035; prohibit school districts from using fully autonomous vehicles as school buses or as any other vehicle to transport students.
Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 3 -- D. YatesSummary
Increase all insurance minimum requirement amounts from $1 million to $5 million for both personal and commercial vehicles.
Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 4 -- G. WilliamsSummary
Eliminate the two year requirement for a human driver in large autonomous vehicles; eliminate the delayed effective date for the amendments to 281.764, regarding platoon vehicles.
Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 5 -- D. YatesSummary
Allow units of local government to impose conditions on autonomous vehicle operation within their jurisdictions.
Statutes affected: Introduced: 186.410, 189.635, 281.010, 281.630, 281.764, 281.655
Acts Chapter 176: 186.410, 189.635, 281.010, 281.630, 281.764, 281.655
House Committee Substitute 1: 186.410, 189.635, 281.010, 281.630, 281.764, 281.655
Current/Final: 186.410, 189.635, 281.010, 281.630, 281.764, 281.655
Current: 186.410, 189.635, 281.010, 281.630, 281.764, 281.655