Alaska Senate panel hears bill requiring human operators in commercial autonomous vehicles

The Alaska Senate Transportation Committee heard testimony Tuesday on legislation that would require human operators in commercial autonomous vehicles. Lawmakers say the cautious approach reflects the state's challenging road conditions.

Senate Bill 148 would mandate that commercial trucks and buses using autonomous technology keep a qualified human operator in the driver's seat, ready to take control if the system fails. The bill does not restrict personal vehicles with self-driving features.

Background

Senator Robert Myers introduced SB 148 on March 28, 2025, to establish Alaska's first regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles. The bill defines different levels of automation and creates a liability structure for accidents involving self-driving technology. Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson joined as a cosponsor on April 4, 2025.

Alaska's Weather Concerns

Myers, who represents North Pole and the eastern part of the Fairbanks Borough, told the committee that Alaska's environment demands extra precautions.

"Alaska presents conditions that are very different from the environments where most autonomous vehicles are currently being tested," Myers said. "Snow, ice, and extreme weather introduce variables that these systems have not been widely proven to handle just yet."

The state currently has no statutes regulating autonomous vehicles or defining liability when accidents occur, Myers said.

"In Alaska, we have not yet answered these questions," Myers said. "There are currently no statutes that specifically regulate autonomous vehicles or clearly define liability."

The bill distinguishes between vehicle sizes and uses. Myers explained the legislation targets larger commercial vehicles, trucks and buses, while leaving personal cars with autonomous features unregulated.

"We are recognizing there is a big difference between, say, a Waymo taxi going down the road at 20 miles an hour through town and a 90,000-pound truck going down the road at 50, going down the highway at 55," Myers said.

Liability Framework

The bill establishes a hierarchy of liability in accidents involving autonomous vehicles. Under the proposed law, responsibility would fall first on the human operator, then shift to the vehicle modifier, programmer, or manufacturer if evidence shows the technology failed.

Myers said the bill creates statutory definitions for different levels of automation, from basic emergency braking systems to fully autonomous driving, based on industry standards.

Labor Support, Lawmaker Questions

Patrick Fitzgerald, political coordinator for Teamsters Local 959, testified in support of the bill, citing safety concerns about autonomous vehicle malfunctions reported nationwide.

"News stories of automatic vehicles suffering shortages and shutting down crowded roadways, as well as misguided trips to wrong locations, are far too much of a risk for Alaskans to take, especially in a state where road conditions are ever-changing and are at times dangerous for even the most experienced drivers," Fitzgerald said.

Senator George Rauscher questioned whether the bill should extend human operator requirements to personal vehicles as well. He expressed concern about autonomous cars navigating icy roads or railroad crossings.

"I do not even want to see a car that is automatically driving itself, which does not understand what an icy road does, and hitting another car, causing another car. I do not want to see a car running down the road and does not realize that the gate did not go down at the train track intersection," Rauscher said.

Myers said he remained open to amendments expanding the bill's scope beyond commercial vehicles.

"The way that the language is crafted, you would not be banned from having the technology," Myers said. "You would just be required to have a driver in there ready to take over in case the technology had a problem."

Next Steps

The committee took no action on the bill Tuesday. Committee Chair Jesse Bjorkman set SB 148 aside for future consideration. Myers noted that a House companion bill has already advanced to the Rules Committee, suggesting the legislation may move forward in a different vehicle.

The Senate Transportation Committee will not meet Thursday. Next week's agenda has not been announced.