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B26-0153 • 2025

Autonomous Vehicle Testing Permit Requirement Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 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 official source material does not provide specific details on removed old rules, so this claim was omitted.

Autonomous Vehicle Testing Permit Requirement Act

This act requires companies testing self-driving cars in Washington D.C. to get a special permit and notify the city before they start testing.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires anyone who wants to test self-driving cars on District roads to have an Autonomous Vehicle (AV) testing permit.
  • Allows testing without a permit if there is a human ready to take control of the car, but only until permits are available.
  • Needs testers to tell the city about their plans at least 10 business days before they start testing.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Companies and people who want to test self-driving cars in Washington D.C.

Terms To Know

Autonomous Vehicle (AV)
A car that can drive itself without a human driver

Limits and Unknowns

  • This act will expire on June 19, 2025.
  • It only applies to testing self-driving cars in Washington D.C.

Bill History

  1. 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

  2. 2025-03-24 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Returned from Mayor

  3. 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

  4. 2025-03-11 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Mar 25, 2025

  5. 2025-03-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  6. 2025-03-04 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  7. 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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