AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES; COMM. DRIVER LIC.
Sponsored By: HOUSE TRANSPORTATION
Became Law
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.
Small delivery robots are exempt
Small delivery robots are exempt from the autonomous‑vehicle rules. To qualify, the device must be electric, run on sidewalks or paths in the highway right‑of‑way, mainly carry property, weigh under 120 pounds without cargo, and go no faster than 10 mph. It must have tech that allows operation with or without active operator control or monitoring.
Limits on autonomous goods and passenger transport
An autonomous vehicle may not carry goods for business. It can carry goods only for personal, noncommercial use, if it weighs 10,000 pounds or less and is designed to carry no more than 16 passengers including the driver. For passenger trips, an autonomous vehicle may carry people only if it weighs 10,000 pounds or less and is designed for no more than 16 passengers. Larger autonomous delivery vans, trucks, or shuttles cannot operate under this law.
Most autonomous vehicles need a human operator
Most autonomous vehicles in Alaska must have a human safety operator inside. The operator watches the system and can take over or shut it off. This rule does not apply to commercial autonomous vehicles that are transporting passengers. The safety operator must meet all federal and state driving rules. Autonomous vehicles registered here must meet federal motor‑vehicle standards, and the law defines what counts as an autonomous vehicle and what does not.
Retake only failed parts of driving test
If you fail part of a required driving test in Alaska, the DMV only makes you retake the parts you failed or did not finish. You do not have to redo the whole exam.
Courts use shared-fault rules for autonomous vehicles
In lawsuits after an autonomous vehicle crash, courts use Alaska’s existing shared‑fault rules to decide fault and damages. This sets how cases are handled for people who sue or are sued after these crashes.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
HOUSE TRANSPORTATION
Affiliation unavailable
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
(S) Heard & Held
5/14/2026Senate(S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
5/14/2026SenateVideo
5/14/2026House(S) REFERRED TO STATE AFFAIRS
5/13/2026Senate(S) FN1: ZERO(ADM)
5/13/2026Senate(S) NR: BJORKMAN, KIEHL, STEDMAN, TOBIN
5/13/2026Senate(S) TRA RPT SCS 4NR SAME TITLE
5/13/2026Senate(S) Moved SCS CSHB 217(TRA) Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --
5/12/2026Senate(S) TRANSPORTATION at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
5/12/2026Senate(S) STA REFERRAL ADDED AFTER TRA
5/12/2026SenateAudio/Video
5/12/2026House(S) Heard & Held
5/5/2026Senate(S) TRANSPORTATION at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
5/5/2026SenateAudio/Video
5/5/2026House(S) TRA
5/4/2026Senate(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
5/4/2026Senate(H) VERSION: CSHB 217(CRA) AM
5/1/2026House(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)
5/1/2026House(H) RECONSIDERATION NOT TAKEN UP
5/1/2026House(H) JOHNSON NOTICE OF RECONSIDERATION
4/30/2026House(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
4/30/2026House(H) PASSED Y39 E1
4/30/2026House(H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 217(CRA) AM
4/30/2026House(H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/30 CALENDAR
4/29/2026House(H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION
4/29/2026House
Bill Text
SCS CSHB 217(TRA)
5/13/2026
CSHB 217(CRA) am
4/29/2026
CSHB 217(CRA)
4/16/2026
CSHB 217(TRA)
3/25/2026
HB 217
5/2/2025