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HB26-1286 • 2026

Automated Driving System Commercial Vehicles

The act prohibits using an automated driving system to drive a commercial motor vehicle unless an individual who holds a commercial driver's license is in the vehicle, monitors the vehicle's driving,

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Vetoed

The latest official action shows the governor vetoed this bill. Check the bill history to see whether lawmakers later overrode that veto.

Sponsor
Rep. S. Lieder, Rep. C. Richardson, Sen. C. Kolker, Sen. L. Liston, Rep. J. Bacon, Rep. C. Barron, Rep. K. Brown, Rep. S. Camacho, Rep. M. Carter, Rep. C. Clifford, Rep. M. Duran, Rep. L. Feret, Rep. A. Flanell, Rep. M. Froelich, Rep. L. Garcia Sander, Rep. L. García, Rep. L. Goldstein, Rep. E. Hamrick, Rep. A. Hartsook, Rep. J. Jackson, Rep. J. Joseph, Rep. M. Lukens, Rep. J. Mabrey, Rep. M. Martinez, Rep. T. Mauro, Rep. K. Nguyen, Rep. A. Paschal, Rep. N. Ricks, Rep. M. Rutinel, Rep. G. Rydin, Rep. S. Slaugh, Rep. L. Smith, Rep. M. Soper, Rep. B. Titone, Rep. E. Velasco, Rep. J. Willford, Rep. T. Winter, Rep. S. Woodrow, Rep. D. Woog, Rep. Y. Zokaie, Rep. C. Espenoza, Rep. M. Lindsay, Rep. J. Phillips, Rep. E. Sirota, Rep. T. Story, Sen. J. Coleman, Sen. J. Danielson, Sen. T. Exum, Sen. C. Kipp, Sen. J. Marchman, Sen. K. Mullica, Sen. T. Sullivan
Last action
2026-05-28
Official status
Governor Vetoed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Rules for Self-Driving Commercial Trucks in Colorado

This bill requires a licensed human driver to be inside and watching self-driving commercial trucks, with specific rules for hazardous materials and set fines for breaking the law.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires a person with a commercial driver's license to sit in the cab of heavy self-driving trucks and watch them drive.
  • Mandates that the human monitor must be ready to take control if the truck drives illegally or unsafely.
  • Places stricter rules on drivers transporting hazardous materials, requiring them to sit specifically in the driver's seat.
  • Sets fines starting at $1,000 for a first violation and increasing with each new offense.
  • Excludes light-duty vehicles and trucks used as mobile barriers from these requirements.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Operators of commercial motor vehicles weighing 26,100 pounds or more that use automated driving systems.
  • Drivers transporting hazardous materials in these heavy trucks.
  • The Colorado State Patrol chief, who must study safety effects and report to lawmakers by November 1, 2030.

Terms To Know

Automated Driving System
Technology that can drive a vehicle or control its functions without constant human input.
Commercial Motor Vehicle
A truck with a manufacturer's weight rating of 26,100 pounds or more used for business purposes.
Truck-Mounted Attenuator
A heavy-duty truck equipped with a crash-absorbing device to protect workers in road construction zones.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill was vetoed by the governor, so it may not become law unless lawmakers override that decision.
  • If enacted, the rules automatically end on September 1, 2031.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

J.001

HOU Appropriations

Passed [*]

Plain English: This amendment adds funding to the bill so that state agencies can update their computer systems and hire staff needed for new rules on automated commercial vehicles.

  • It sets aside $14,357 from a specific vehicle tax fund for use in the 2026-27 budget year.
  • The money will pay to maintain and support the DRIVES computer system used by the state.
  • Funds are allocated to hire staff at the Division of Motor Vehicles and the Executive Director's office.
  • A portion of the funding is designated for payments to the Office of Information Technology.
  • The amendment text does not explain what specific tasks the new computer system updates or hired staff will perform beyond general maintenance and support.
L.011

HOU Appropriations

Passed [*]

Plain English: This amendment adds a special safety clause to the bill so it can take effect immediately after being signed into law.

  • It inserts new language stating that the General Assembly believes this act is needed right away for public peace, health, or safety.
  • The amendment text only shows changes to a specific section about emergency powers and does not explain what other parts of the bill were removed.
  • Because the original lines being replaced are not included in this document, we cannot describe exactly how the rest of the law is changing.
L.001

HOU Transportation, Housing & Local Government

Passed [*]

Plain English: This amendment sets specific dollar fines for breaking the rules on automated commercial vehicles, requires a safety report in 2030, and makes these new laws expire automatically in September 2031.

  • It replaces general penalty references with exact fine amounts: $1,000 plus fees for a first offense, $2,000 plus fees for a second offense, and doubled fines for any offenses after that.
  • It requires the Chief of the Colorado State Patrol to study how these rules affect highway safety by November 1, 2030.
  • The report must tell lawmakers whether to keep the law or change it before it expires on September 1, 2031.
  • The amendment text does not explain what specific actions are considered violations of the automated driving rules, only how much they cost if someone breaks them.
  • It is unclear exactly which parts of the original bill were removed by striking entire pages and lines without showing their full content.
L.004

HOU Transportation, Housing & Local Government

Passed [*]

Plain English: This amendment requires that a licensed driver must be sitting inside the vehicle and ready to take control if needed when an automated driving system is used on a commercial truck.

  • A person with a commercial driver's license must sit in the cab of the vehicle while it drives itself.
L.005

HOU Transportation, Housing & Local Government

Passed [*]

Plain English: This amendment limits the bill to only apply to large commercial vehicles that weigh at least 26,001 pounds.

  • The rule requiring a licensed driver in automated driving systems now applies specifically to heavy trucks weighing 26,001 pounds or more.
L.006

HOU Transportation, Housing & Local Government

Passed [*]

Plain English: This amendment requires that the person in a commercial vehicle using an automated driving system must hold not just any license, but the specific type of Commercial Driver's License with all necessary endorsements for that exact vehicle.

  • The bill now specifies that the driver must have 'the appropriate' Commercial Driver's License instead of just 'a' Commercial Driver's License.
L.017

SEN Appropriations

Lost

Plain English: This amendment adds a rule that requires voters to approve or reject this bill in an election before it can become law.

  • The bill will be sent to Colorado voters on the November 3, 2026 ballot for their approval.
  • This amendment was lost and did not pass in committee.
  • If passed by voters, this change would only apply if a majority votes 'Yes' to create new laws about automated driving systems on heavy commercial vehicles.

Bill History

  1. 2026-05-28 Governor

    Governor Vetoed

  2. 2026-05-21 Governor

    Sent to the Governor

  3. 2026-05-21 Senate

    Signed by the President of the Senate

  4. 2026-05-21 House

    Signed by the Speaker of the House

  5. 2026-05-12 Senate

    Senate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  6. 2026-05-11 Senate

    Senate Second Reading Special Order - Passed - No Amendments

  7. 2026-05-11 Senate

    Senate Committee on Appropriations Refer Unamended to Senate Committee of the Whole

  8. 2026-05-11 Senate

    Senate Committee on Transportation & Energy Refer Unamended to Appropriations

  9. 2026-05-11 Senate

    Introduced In Senate - Assigned to Transportation & Energy

  10. 2026-05-09 House

    House Third Reading Passed - No Amendments

  11. 2026-05-08 House

    House Third Reading Laid Over Daily - No Amendments

  12. 2026-05-07 House

    House Second Reading Special Order - Passed with Amendments - Committee

  13. 2026-05-07 House

    House Committee on Appropriations Refer Amended to House Committee of the Whole

  14. 2026-03-18 House

    House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government Refer Amended to Appropriations

  15. 2026-02-20 House

    Introduced In House - Assigned to Transportation, Housing & Local Government

Official Summary Text

The act prohibits using an automated driving system to drive a commercial motor vehicle unless an individual who holds a commercial driver's license is in the vehicle, monitors the vehicle's driving, and intervenes, if necessary, to avoid illegal or unsafe driving. The individual must be in the driver's seat if hazardous materials are being transported. The penalty is $1,000 for a first offense, is $2,000 for a second offense, and doubles for each subsequent offense.
The act does not apply to a light-duty vehicle or a truck-mounted attenuator.
The prohibition is repealed September 1, 2031. The chief of the Colorado state patrol will analyze the act's effects on commercial vehicle safety on highways. By November 1, 2030, the chief of the Colorado state patrol will issue a report to the relevant committees of the house of representatives and senate. The report must make recommendations as whether to continue the prohibition and, if continued, any recommended legislation to improve the prohibition.
For the 2026-27 state fiscal year, $14,357 is appropriated to the department of revenue from the Colorado DRIVES vehicle services account in the highway users tax fund to implement the act.
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HOUSEBILL26-128 ~ ~ - ;_o
BY REPRESENT A ~ ,Lieder and Richardson, Bacon, Barron,
Brown, Camacho, ~arter,-Clifford, Duran, Feret, Flanell, Froelich, Garcia,
Garcia Sander, Goldstein, Hamrick, Hartsook, Jackson, Joseph, Lukens,
Mabrey, Martinez, Mauro , Nguyen, Paschal, Ricks, Rutinel, Rydin, Slaugh,
Smith, Soper, Titone, Velasco, Willford, Winter T., Woodrow, Woog,
Zokaie, Espenoza, Lindsay, Phillips, Sirota, Story;
also SENATOR(S) Kolker and Liston, Danielson, Exum, Kipp, Marchman,
Mullica, Sullivan, Coleman.
CONCERNING A REQUIREMENT THAT A COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE HA VE
A HUMAN PRESENT WHEN THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE IS BEING
DRIVEN BY AN AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM, AND, IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH, MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 42-4-242, amend ( 1)
as follows:
42-4-242. Automated driving systems -safe harbor.
(1) SUBJECT TO SECTION 42-2-410, a person may use an automated
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material added to existing law; dashes
through words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law and such material is not part of
the act.
driving system to drive a motor vehicle or to control a function of a motor
vehicle if the system is capable of complying with every state and federal
law that applies to the function that the system is operating.
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 42-2-410 as
follows:
42-2-410. Automated driving systems for commercial motor
vehicles - exceptions - definitions - repeal.
(1) A PERSON SHALL NOT USE AN AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM ON
A HIGHWAY TO DRIVE A COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE THAT HAS A
MANUFACTURER'S GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RA TING OR GROSS COMBINATION
WEIGHT RA TING OF TWENTY-SIX THOUSAND ONE POUNDS OR MORE UNLESS
AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HOLDS THE APPROPRIATE COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S
LICENSE WITH ANY REQUIRED ENDORSEMENT FOR THE COMMERCIAL
VEHICLE:
(a) Is PHYS I CALL y PRESENT IN THE CAB OF THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR
VEHICLE AND PREPARED TO INTERVENE, IF NECESSARY, TO AVOID ILLEGAL
OR UNSAFE DRIVING OF THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE;
(b) Is SEATED IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR
VEHICLE IF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ARE BEING TRANSPORTED;
( c) MONITORS THE PERFORMANCE OF THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR
VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROADWAY; AND
(d) INTERVENES, IF NECESSARY, TO AVOID ILLEGAL OR UNSAFE
DRIVING OF THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE.
(2) THIS SECTION DOES NOT AFFECT THE DUTY OF A PERSON TO
COMPLY WITH PART 3 OF ARTICLE 20 OF THIS TITLE 42.
(3) A PERSON THAT VIOLATES THIS SECTION COMMITS A CLASS A
TRAFFIC INFRACTION AND IS SUBJECT TO:
(a) A PENALTY OF ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND A SURCHARGE OF
ONE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS FOR A FIRST CONVICTION;
PAGE 2-HOUSE BILL 26-1286
(b) A PENALTY OF TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS AND A SURCHARGE OF
ONE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS FOR A SECOND CONVICTION; OR
(c) (I) A SURCHARGE OF ONE HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS; AND
(II) A PENAL TY THAT DOUBLES THE PENAL TY DESCRIBED IN
SUBSECTION (3)(b) OF THIS SECTION FOR EACH SUBSEQUENT CONVICTION
AFTER THE SECOND CONVICTION.
( 4) THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO A LIGHT-DUTY VEHICLE OR A
TRUCK-MOUNTED ATTENUATOR.
(5) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE
REQUIRES:
(a) "COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE" HAS THE SAME MEANING AS
"COMMERCIAL VEHICLE" AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 42-4-235 (l)(a).
(b) "TRUCK-MOUNTED ATTENUATOR" MEANSAHEAVY-DUTYTRUCK
FITTED WITH AN ENERGY-ABSORBING CRASH DEVICE THAT ACTS AS A MOBILE
BARRIER TO BE THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT IN A REAR-END COLLISION AND
THAT IS USED TO PROTECT PERSONNEL IN A HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION OR
MAINTENANCE ZONE.
( 6) (a) THIS SECTION IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2031.
(b) THE CHIEF OF THE COLORADO STATE PATROL SHALL ANALYZE
THIS SECTION'S EFFECTS ON COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SAFETY ON HIGHWAYS.
BYNOVEMBER 1,2030, THECHIEFOFTHECOLORADOSTATEPATROLSHALL,
BASED ON THE REVIEW, ISSUE A REPORT TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE AND THE
SENATE TRANSPORTATION AND ENERGY COMMITTEE, OR THEIR SUCCESSOR
COMMITTEES. THE REPORT MUST MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AS WHETHER TO
CONTINUE THIS SECTION, AND, IF THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONTINUE
THIS SECTION, ANY RECOMMENDED LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE THIS SECTION.
SECTION 3. Appropriation. ( 1) For the 2026-27 state fiscal year,
$14,357 is appropriated to the department of revenue. This appropriation is
from the Colorado DRIVES vehicle services account in the highway users
tax fund created in section 42-1-211 (2), C.R.S. To implement this act, the
PAGE 3-HOUSE BILL 26-1286
department may use this appropriation as follows:
(a) $10,400 for DRIVES maintenance and support;
(b) $984 for use by the division of motor vehicles for personal
services related to driver services;
(c) $1,353 for use by the executive director's office for personal
services related to administration and support; and
(d) $1,620 for payments to OIT.
SECTION 4. Applicability. This act applies to offenses committed
on or after the effective date of this act.
SECTION 5. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
PAGE 4-HOUSE BILL 26-1286
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state
institutions.
J~
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
v~~
Vanessa Reilly
CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
Jared S. Polis •.
GOVERNOR OF THE ST
PAGE 5-HOUSE BILL 26-1286
es Rashad Coleman, Sr.
PRESIDENT OF
THE SENATE
Esther van Mourik
SECRETARY OF
THE SENATE