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Alaska2026Passed Legislature

HB217

Alaska Bill on Commercial Driver Tests and Autonomous Vehicles

Last scannedSep 12, 2026, 4:46 AM

In one sentence

This law allows applicants to retake only failed parts of commercial driving tests and sets rules for autonomous vehicles in Alaska, including weight limits and safety operator requirements.

What it does

  • Allows the department to require an applicant who fails a part of a commercial driving test to retake only that specific section instead of the whole exam.
  • Requires autonomous vehicles registered in Alaska to meet federal standards for operation on public highways.
  • Prohibits autonomous vehicles from transporting goods or passengers unless they weigh 10,000 pounds or less and are designed to carry no more than 16 people.
  • Requires a human safety operator to be physically present in most autonomous vehicles to monitor performance and take control if needed, except for commercial passenger transport.
  • States that fault and damages in accidents involving autonomous vehicles will be decided under existing state laws regarding shared responsibility.

Who it affects

  • People applying for commercial driver licenses who need to retake driving tests.
  • Owners and operators of autonomous vehicles registered in Alaska.
  • Human safety operators required to sit inside most autonomous vehicles during operation.
  • Courts handling civil lawsuits about accidents involving self-driving cars.

Limits and unknowns

  • This law does not apply to electric personal delivery devices that weigh less than 120 pounds without cargo, travel at speeds under 10 miles per hour, and operate on sidewalks.
  • The bill defines automation levels but does not list specific car models currently meeting these standards.

Plain language

Terms to know

Autonomous vehicle
A vehicle with technology capable of driving without active physical control or monitoring by a human, including systems rated as conditional, high, or full automation.
Human safety operator
A person physically present in the vehicle who can monitor performance and intervene to operate or shut off the vehicle if needed.
Dynamic driving task
All real-time actions required to drive a car safely, such as steering and braking, but not planning trips or choosing destinations.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES; COMM. DRIVER LIC. An Act relating to commercial motor vehicle licensing examinations; regulating autonomous vehicles; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (S) REFERRED TO RULES2710
  2. (S) FN1: ZERO(ADM)2710
  3. (S) DP: GRAY-JACKSON2710
  4. (S) DNP: BJORKMAN, TILTON2710
  5. (S) STA RPT SCS(STA) 2DNP 1DP2710
  6. (S) Moved SCS CSHB 217(TRA) Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --Text
  7. (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)Text
  8. (S) Heard & HeldText
  9. (S) STATE AFFAIRS at 03:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)Text
  10. (S) FN1: ZERO(ADM)2623
  11. (S) NR: BJORKMAN, KIEHL, STEDMAN, TOBIN2623
  12. (S) TRA RPT SCS 4NR SAME TITLE2622
  13. (S) Moved SCS CSHB 217(TRA) Out of Committee -- Please Note Time Change --Text
  14. (S) TRANSPORTATION at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205Text
  15. (S) STA REFERRAL ADDED AFTER TRA2604
  16. (S) Heard & HeldText
  17. (S) TRANSPORTATION at 01:30 PM BUTROVICH 205Text
  18. (S) TRA2463
  19. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS2463
  20. (H) VERSION: CSHB 217(CRA) AM2381

Changes

Amendments

1 stored

AM 1

AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC 2335