B26-0153 • 2025

Autonomous Vehicle Testing Permit Requirement Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Allen
Last action: 2025-03-28
Official status: Enacted
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The law is an emergency act that expires after 90 days unless extended or replaced by permanent legislation.

Autonomous Vehicle Testing Permit Requirement Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This emergency law requires a permit to test driverless vehicles on District roads and sets rules for testing with a human operator if permits are not yet available.

What This Bill Does

Prohibits testing or operating autonomous vehicles on District roadways without an AV testing permit, unless specific conditions are met.
Allows testing without a permit only if the Department has not made applications available, there is a test operator in the vehicle ready to take control, and other laws are followed.
Requires anyone testing with an operator to send electronic notice to the Department of Transportation at least 10 business days before starting.
Mandates that the notice includes details on the number of vehicles, their make and model, operator training and license information, test locations, and time periods.
Removes a previous section of law regarding autonomous vehicle testing entities.

Who It Names or Affects

Any person or entity planning to test or operate an autonomous vehicle in the District
The Department of Transportation

Terms To Know

Autonomous Vehicle (AV): A vehicle that can drive itself using a computer system.
Test Operator: A person physically present in the vehicle who is performing or prepared to take over driving tasks from the autonomous system.

Limits and Unknowns

This law takes effect after approval by the Mayor and remains in force for no longer than 90 days.
The text does not specify penalties if a person fails to provide the required notice before testing begins.

Bill History

2025-03-28 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Act A26-0035 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 003341, Expires on Jun 19, 2025
2025-03-24 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Returned from Mayor
2025-03-21 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0035, Expires on Jun 19, 2025
2025-03-11 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Mar 25, 2025
2025-03-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Retained by the Council
2025-03-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
Legislative Meeting
2025-03-03 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS
B26-0153 Introduced by Councilmember Allen at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Autonomous Vehicle Testing Permit Requirement Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

ENROLLED ORIGINAL
ANACT
D.C. ACT 26-35
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
MARCH 21, 2025
Toamend,onanemergencybasis,duetocongressionalreview,theAutonomousVehicleActof2012toprohibitdriverlesstestingofautonomousvehicles(“AV”)onDistrictroadwayswithoutanAV testingpermitandtorequireanypersonorentitytestingAVswithatest
operatorbeforeanAV testingpermitbecomesavailabletoprovidenoticetotheDistrict,DepartmentofTransportation.
BEITENACTEDBYTHECOUNCILOFTHEDISTRICTOFCOLUMBIA,Thatthis
actmaybecitedasthe“AutonomousVehicleTestingPermitRequirementCongressionalReviewEmergencyAmendmentActof2025”.
Sec.2.TheAutonomousVehicleActof2012,effectiveApril23,2013(D.C,Law19-278;D.C.OfficialCode§50-2351etseq.),isamendedasfollows:(a)Section3a(4)(D.C.OfficialCode§50-2352.01(d))isamendedtoreadasfollows:
“(d)A personorentityshallnottestoroperateanautonomousvehicleonaDistrictroadwaywithoutanAV testingpermit,unlesstheDepartmenthasnotyetmadeanAV testing
permitapplicationavailableand:“(1)Thereisatestoperatorphysicallypresentinthevehiclewhoisperformingthedynamicdrivingtaskorispreparedtotakeoverthedynamicdrivingtaskfromtheautonomousdrivingsystem;(2)Thepersonorentityisincompliancewithotherlocalandfederallawsand
regulations;and(3)ThepersonorentityprovidestheDepartmentwithelectronicnotificationatleast10businessdayspriortocommencingtestingoroperatingintheDistrict,includingthefollowinginformationwithrespecttooperationsintheDistrict,the:“(A)Numberofautonomousvehicles;“(B)Model,make,andtypeofautonomousvehicles;“(C)Operatortrainingandlicenseinformation;
“(D)Geographictestingoroperationlocations;and“(E)Timeperiodoftestingoroperation.”.
ENROLLED ORIGINAL.
(b)Section3e(D.C.OfficialCode§50-2352.05)isrepealed.(c)Section34(a)(1)(D.C.OfficialCode§50-2352.06(a)(1))isamendedbystrikingthe
phrase“AnAV testingentity”andinsertingthephrase“Apersonorentity”initsplace.
Sec.3.Fiscalimpactstatement.
The Counciladoptsthefiscalimpactstatementof theBudget Directorasthefiscalimpact
statementrequiredbysection4aoftheGeneralLegislativeProceduresActof1975,approved
October 16,2006 (120 Stat.2038; D.C. OfficialCode § 1-301.47a).
Sec.4.Effectivedate.ThisactshalltakeeffectfollowingapprovalbytheMayor(orintheeventofvetobytheMayor,actionbytheCounciltooverridetheveto),andshallremainineffectfornolongerthan
90days,asprovidedforemergencyactsoftheCounciloftheDistrictofColumbiainsection412(a)oftheDistrictofColumbiaHomeRuleAct,approvedDecember24,1973(87Stat.788;D.C.OfficialCode§1-204.12(a)).
Do ine —‘Chairman
Councilof the Districtof Columbia

MARCH 21, 2025

DocketNo,826-0153,
[X]ITEMONCONSENTCALENDAR
COUNCILOF THEDISTRICTOF COLUMBIA
WASHINGTON,DC,20004

[X]VOICE VOTE Approved
i[]ROLLCALLVOTE— Result
a a a aanne =e =he aoe te =—— aE
X-IndicateVote AB -Absent NV -Present,NotVoting Rec -Recused
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