AlaskaAutonomous vehicles would face Alaska operating and safety rules
Applicants could retake only unfinished test sections, while autonomous vehicles would face federal standards, transport limits, and rules for onboard safety operators.
What it does
Applicants who do not pass or finish part of a required driving test may have to retake only the failed or unfinished parts.
Autonomous vehicles registered in Alaska must meet federal vehicle standards. They may carry goods only for personal use and passengers only within stated weight and seating limits.
Most autonomous vehicles operated in Alaska must have a human safety operator inside who can take control. Commercial vehicles carrying passengers are exempt from this requirement.
For a civil case about an autonomous vehicle crash, fault and the division of damages are determined under Alaska law.
Argument forApplicants who fail part of a required driving test could avoid repeating sections they already passed.
Argument againstCommercial autonomous vehicles carrying passengers could operate without an onboard safety operator, leaving no person inside to intervene if the system fails.
More detail
Applicants who do not pass or complete part of a required driving test may be required to retake only that part. The rule applies to applicants taking the driving test required under the commercial motor vehicle licensing section. This applies when an applicant does not successfully complete any portion of a test required under the section.
Autonomous vehicles registered in Alaska must meet federal motor vehicle standards and may transport goods or passengers only within stated limits. These rules cover autonomous vehicles registered in Alaska. Goods or commerce may be carried only for personal, noncommercial use in a vehicle weighing 10,000 pounds or less and designed for no more than 16 passengers, including the driver. Passengers may be carried only in a vehicle weighing 10,000 pounds or less and designed for no more than 16 passengers.
Most autonomous vehicles operated in Alaska must have a human safety operator inside who can monitor and intervene in how the vehicle performs. The operator rule covers autonomous vehicles operated in Alaska, with the stated exceptions. The operator must be able to operate or shut off the vehicle and must meet federal and state requirements for operating autonomous and other vehicles. The onboard operator requirement does not apply to a commercial autonomous vehicle carrying passengers. The section's requirements also do not apply to an electrically powered, property-carrying delivery device weighing less than 120 pounds, traveling no faster than 10 miles per hour, and operated on a sidewalk or path within a highway right-of-way, if it has the specified operator-control technology.
In a civil case about a crash involving an autonomous vehicle, the court must determine fault and divide damages under Alaska law. This applies to civil actions about motor vehicle accidents involving an autonomous vehicle.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 17(S) REFERRED TO RULESLatest
- May 17(S) FN1: ZERO(ADM)
- May 17(S) DP: GRAY-JACKSON
- May 17(S) DNP: BJORKMAN, TILTON
- May 17(S) STA RPT SCS(TRA) 2DNP 1DP
- May 16(S) Minutes (SSTA)
- May 16(S) Moved SCS CSHB 217(TRA) Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --
- May 16(S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- May 14(S) Minutes (SSTA)
- May 14(S) Heard & Held
- May 14(S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
- May 13(S) FN1: ZERO(ADM)
- May 13(S) NR: BJORKMAN, KIEHL, STEDMAN, TOBIN
- May 13(S) TRA RPT SCS 4NR SAME TITLE
- May 12(S) Moved SCS CSHB 217(TRA) Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --
- May 12(S) TRANSPORTATION at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
- May 12(S) STA REFERRAL ADDED AFTER TRA
- May 5(S) Heard & Held
- May 5(S) TRANSPORTATION at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205
- May 4(S) TRA
- May 4(S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSMinor
- May 1(H) VERSION: CSHB 217(CRA) AM
- May 1(H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)Passed Senate
- May 1(H) RECONSIDERATION NOT TAKEN UP
- Apr 30(H) JOHNSON NOTICE OF RECONSIDERATION
- Vote recorded (H) PASSED Y39 E1 #2356. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 30(H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE
- Apr 30(H) PASSED Y39 E1Passed House
- Apr 30(H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 217(CRA) AMMinor
- Apr 29(H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/30 CALENDARMinor
- Apr 29(H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION
- Apr 29(H) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UCMajor
- Apr 29(H) CRA CS ADOPTED UC
- Apr 29(H) READ THE SECOND TIMEMinor
- Apr 29(H) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/29/2026
- Apr 16(H) FN1: ZERO(ADM)
- Apr 16(H) AM: ST. CLAIR
- Apr 16(H) DP: HOLLAND, PRAX, G.NELSON, HALL, HIMSCHOOT, MEARS
- Apr 16(H) CRA RPT CS(CRA) 6DP 1AM
- Apr 14(H) Moved CSHB 217(CRA) Out of Committee
- Apr 14(H) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 08:00 AM BARNES 124
- Apr 9(H) Heard & Held -- Delayed to 9:00 am --
- Apr 9(H) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 08:00 AM BARNES 124
- Apr 2(H) Heard & Held
- Apr 2(H) COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS at 08:00 AM BARNES 124
- Mar 25(H) FN1: ZERO(ADM)
- Mar 25(H) NR: MCCABE, MINA
- Mar 25(H) DP: G.NELSON, ST. CLAIR, CARRICK, EISCHEID
- Mar 25(H) TRA RPT CS(TRA) 4DP 2NR
- Mar 24(H) Moved CSHB 217(TRA) Out of Committee
- Mar 24(H) TRANSPORTATION at 01:00 PM BARNES 124
- Feb 26(H) Minutes (HTRA)
- Feb 26(H) Heard & Held
- Feb 26(H) TRANSPORTATION at 01:00 PM BARNES 124
- Feb 24(H) Minutes (HTRA)
- Feb 24(H) Heard & Held -- Please Note Time Change --
- Feb 24(H) TRANSPORTATION at 01:30 PM BARNES 124
- Feb 19(H) Minutes (HTRA)
- Feb 19(H) Heard & Held -- Testimony <Invitation Only> --
- Feb 19(H) TRANSPORTATION at 01:00 PM BARNES 124
- 2025
- May 8(H) Minutes (HTRA)
- May 8(H) Heard & Held
- May 8(H) TRANSPORTATION at 01:00 PM BARNES 124
- May 2(H) TRA, CRA
- May 2(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALSIntroduced
TransportationPublic Safety