Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB5426 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		By: Bryant H.B. No. 5426
	2	+
	3	+
2	4
3	5
4	6		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	7		AN ACT
6	8		relating to the regulation of automated motor vehicles.
7	9		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
8	10		SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 14, Occupations Code, is
9	11		amended by adding Chapter 2313 to read as follows:
10	12		CHAPTER 2313. AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLES
11	13		SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
12	14		Sec. 2313.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
13	15		(1) "Automated driving system," "automated motor
14	16		vehicle," and "human operator" have the meanings assigned by
15	17		Section 545.451, Transportation Code.
16	18		(2) "Commission" means the Texas Commission of
17	19		Licensing and Regulation.
18	20		(3) "Department" means the Texas Department of
19	21		Licensing and Regulation.
20	22		SUBCHAPTER B. POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSION AND DEPARTMENT
21	23		Sec. 2313.051. RULES. The commission shall adopt rules as
22	24		necessary to implement this chapter.
23	25		Sec. 2313.052. DATA SHARING. The department may share
24	26		information collected under this chapter with the Texas Department
25	27		of Transportation, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, the
26	28		Department of Public Safety, and any other relevant governmental
27	29		entity as appropriate.
28	30		SUBCHAPTER C. PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
29	31		Sec. 2313.101. PERMIT REQUIRED. The department shall issue
30	32		a permit under this subchapter authorizing a holder of the permit to
31	33		operate automated motor vehicles on public roadways in this state
32	34		without a human operator operating the vehicle from within the
33	35		vehicle.
34	36		Sec. 2313.102. PERMIT APPLICATION. (a) An applicant for a
35	37		permit under this subchapter shall apply to the department in the
36	38		form and manner prescribed by commission rule.
37	39		(b) A person is not eligible for a permit under this
38	40		subchapter unless the person has tested the applicable automated
39	41		driving system on public roadways with a human operator for not less
40	42		than three years.
41	43		(c) An application for a permit under this subchapter must
42	44		include:
43	45		(1) evidence satisfactory to the department that the
44	46		applicant has satisfied the testing requirement prescribed by
45	47		Subsection (b); and
46	48		(2) any other information required by commission rule.
47	49		Sec. 2313.103. RECORDKEEPING AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. A
48	50		permit holder shall, in the form and manner prescribed by
49	51		commission rule:
50	52		(1) record each traffic collision involving an
51	53		automated motor vehicle operating under the permit;
52	54		(2) record each non-testing error occurring on a
53	55		public roadway involving the automated driving system of an
54	56		automated motor vehicle operating under the permit; and
55	57		(3) annually report the information described by
56	58		Subdivisions (1) and (2) to the department.
57	59		Sec. 2313.104. PERMIT TERM; RENEWAL. (a) A permit issued
58	60		under this subchapter is valid for three years.
59	61		(b) A permit under this subchapter may be renewed in the
60	62		same manner as an original application for the permit under Section
61	63		2313.102.
62	64		Sec. 2313.105. INFORMATION REQUIRED TO BE DISPLAYED ON
63	65		AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLE. A permit holder shall, in the form and
64	66		manner prescribed by commission rule, display a sticker or other
65	67		material affixed on each automated motor vehicle operating under
66	68		the permit that:
67	69		(1) indicates that the vehicle is operated by an
68	70		automated driving system; and
69	71		(2) includes a department phone number for persons
70	72		involved in a traffic collision involving the vehicle.
71	73		SUBCHAPTER Z. ENFORCEMENT
72	74		Sec. 2313.951. PERMIT SUSPENSION OR RECISSION. The
73	75		department may suspend or revoke a permit issued under this chapter
74	76		for a violation of this chapter.
75	77		SECTION 2. Section 545.451, Transportation Code, is amended
76	78		by amending Subdivision (2) and adding Subdivisions (4-a) and (4-b)
77	79		to read as follows:
78	80		(2) "Automated motor vehicle" means a motor vehicle on
79	81		which an automated driving system is installed that is capable of
80	82		being operated with Level 4 automation or Level 5 automation.
81	83		(4-a) "Level 4 automation" means a standard of
82	84		automation meeting the criteria for Level 4 specified in the
83	85		Society of Automotive Engineers International Standard J3016
84	86		(April 2021).
85	87		(4-b) "Level 5 automation" means a standard of
86	88		automation meeting the criteria for Level 5 specified in the
87	89		Society of Automotive Engineers International Standard J3016
88	90		(April 2021).
89	91		SECTION 3. Section 545.452, Transportation Code, is amended
90	92		to read as follows:
91	93		Sec. 545.452. EXCLUSIVE REGULATION OF THE OPERATION OF
92	94		AUTOMATED MOTOR VEHICLES AND AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEMS. (a)
93	95		Unless otherwise provided by this subchapter, the operation of
94	96		automated motor vehicles, including any commercial use, and
95	97		automated driving systems are governed exclusively by:
96	98		(1) this subchapter; [and]
97	99		(2) Section 547.618; and
98	100		(3) Chapter 2313, Occupations Code.
99	101		(b) A political subdivision of this state [or a state
100	102		agency] may not impose a franchise or other regulation related to
101	103		the operation of an automated motor vehicle or automated driving
102	104		system.
103	105		SECTION 4. Section 545.454, Transportation Code, is amended
104	106		by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
105	107		follows:
106	108		(a) Subject to Subsection (c), an [An] automated motor
107	109		vehicle may operate in this state with the automated driving system
108	110		engaged, regardless of whether a human operator is physically
109	111		present in the vehicle.
110	112		(c) An automated motor vehicle may not operate on a highway
111	113		in this state without a human operator physically present in the
112	114		vehicle unless a permit covering the vehicle has been issued under
113	115		Chapter 2313, Occupations Code, and is in effect.
114	116		SECTION 5. (a) Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas
115	117		Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall adopt rules to
116	118		implement Chapter 2313, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.
117	119		(b) A person is not required to comply with Subchapter J,
118	120		Chapter 545, Transportation Code, as amended by this Act, until
119	121		January 1, 2026.
120	122		SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
121	123		a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
122	124		provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
123	125		Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
124	126		Act takes effect September 1, 2025.