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1 _____________ BILL NO. _____________
(Primary Sponsor)
2 INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________
3 BY REQUEST OF THE TRANSPORTATION INTERIM COMMITTEE
4
5 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT ALLOWING THE PLATOONING OF TRUCKS; PROVIDING
6 DEFINITIONS; REQUIRING THE CONDUCTOR OF THE LEAD VEHICLE TO HAVE A COMMERCIAL
7 DRIVER'S LICENSE; REQUIRING PERSONS IN A POSITION TO TAKE CONTROL OF PLATOONED
8 VEHICLES TO HAVE A COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE; PROVIDING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; AND
9 PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.”
10
11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
12
13 NEW SECTION. Section 1. Definitions. As used in [sections 1 through 3], unless the context clearly
14 indicates otherwise, the following definitions apply:
15 (1) "Platoon" means a series of vehicles that are platooning.
16 (2) "Platooning" means operating partially or fully autonomous motor vehicles that are trailers,
17 trucks, or truck tractors, as defined in 61-1-101, to travel on a highway at electronically coordinated speeds in a
18 unified manner at a following distance that is closer than would be reasonable and prudent without the use of
19 the technology.
20 (3) "Public highways of this state" has the meaning provided in 60-1-201.
21
22 NEW SECTION. Section 2. Vehicle platooning by CDL holder generally allowed. (1) Platooning is
23 generally allowed on the public highways of this state, but platooning may be restricted in actual or predicted
24 periods of dangerous road conditions by department of transportation rulemaking authorized in [section 3].
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1 (2) The person conducting the leading vehicle of a platoon must have a commercial driver's
2 license. Any person in a position to take control of a vehicle in a platoon must have a commercial driver's
3 license.
4
5 NEW SECTION. Section 3. Rulemaking authority. (1) The department of transportation may adopt
6 rules to limit platooning in actual or predicted periods of dangerous road conditions.
7 (2) The department may exempt from limitation vehicles that are demonstrated to be capable of
8 platooning safely during dangerous road conditions.
9 (3) The department shall consult interested stakeholders prior to proposing rules, such as
10 members of the transportation interim committee, representatives of law enforcement, the trucking industry,
11 platooning technology developers, ranchers, pedestrians, drivers, and tribal and local governments.
12
13 NEW SECTION. Section 4. Codification instruction. [Sections 1 through 3] are intended to be
14 codified as an integral part of Title 61, and the provisions of Title 61 apply to [sections 1 through 3].
15
16 NEW SECTION. Section 5. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2025.
17 - END -
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