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HB582 • 2026

Autonomous truck-mounted attenuators; pilot program authorized.

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 33.2-274.2, relating to Department of Transportation; autonomous truck-mounted attenuators; pilot program authorized.

Labor
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Glass
Last action
2026-04-06
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Autonomous Truck-Mounted Attenuators Pilot Program

This law allows the Virginia Department of Transportation to start a pilot program for using autonomous truck-mounted attenuators in mobile work zones on state highways.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the Department of Transportation to create a pilot program for autonomous truck-mounted attenuators (ATMAs) used in mobile work zones.
  • Defines 'mobile work zone' as an area where vehicles move at no more than 25 miles per hour for highway maintenance or construction purposes, including roadway striping, debris removal, and pothole repair.
  • Requires ATMAs to be tested and approved by the Department before being used in the pilot program.
  • Says that during the pilot, ATMAs can operate autonomously but must have a remote operator who can control them if needed.
  • Requires the Department to send an annual report about the pilot program's progress to certain committees.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The Virginia Department of Transportation
  • Companies and workers involved in highway maintenance or construction

Terms To Know

Autonomous truck-mounted attenuators (ATMAs)
Self-driving trucks used to protect workers during road work.
Mobile work zone
An area where vehicles move slowly for highway maintenance or construction purposes, including roadway striping, debris removal, and pothole repair.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The pilot program will end on December 31, 2031.
  • It is not clear how many ATMAs will be used in the pilot program.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 179 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 179 (effective 7/1/2026)

  3. 2026-04-06 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0179)

  4. 2026-03-10 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026

  5. 2026-03-10 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  6. 2026-02-27 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB582)

  7. 2026-02-26 House

    Signed by Speaker

  8. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Signed by President

  9. 2026-02-26 House

    Enrolled

  10. 2026-02-26 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB582ER)

  11. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Read third time

  12. 2026-02-24 Senate

    Passed Senate Block Vote (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  13. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Rules suspended

  14. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  15. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (37-Y 0-N 0-A)

  16. 2026-02-23 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  17. 2026-02-19 Transportation

    Reported from Transportation (13-Y 0-N)

  18. 2026-02-17 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  19. 2026-02-17 Transportation

    Referred to Committee on Transportation

  20. 2026-02-16 House

    Read third time and passed House Block Vote (96-Y 0-N 0-A)

  21. 2026-02-16 House

    Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House

  22. 2026-02-16 House

    Passed House Block Vote (97-Y 0-N 0-A)

  23. 2026-02-13 House

    Read second time

  24. 2026-02-13 House

    committee substitute agreed to

  25. 2026-02-13 House

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  26. 2026-02-12 House

    Read first time

  27. 2026-02-10 Transportation

    Reported from Transportation with substitute (20-Y 0-N)

  28. 2026-02-10 Transportation

    Committee substitute printed 26106254D-H1

  29. 2026-02-05 Innovations (Ad Hoc)

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N)

  30. 2026-02-05 Innovations (Ad Hoc)

    House subcommittee offered

  31. 2026-01-26 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB582)

  32. 2026-01-19 Innovations (Ad Hoc)

    Assigned HTRAN sub: Innovations (Ad Hoc)

  33. 2026-01-13 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26104225D

  34. 2026-01-13 Transportation

    Referred to Committee on Transportation

Official Summary Text

Department of Transportation; autonomous truck-mounted attenuators; pilot program authorized.
Authorizes the Department of Transportation to establish a pilot program for the implementation and deployment of autonomous truck-mounted attenuators within mobile work zones, defined in the bill. The bill has an expiration date of December 31, 2031. This bill is identical to SB 320.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
33.2-274.2
, relating to Department of Transportation; autonomous truck-mounted attenuators; pilot program authorized.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
33.2-274.2
as follows:
§
33.2-274.2
. Autonomous truck-mounted attenuators; deployment in mobile work zones; pilot program authorized.
A. For purposes of this section, "mobile work zone" means the area in which there is a continuous or intermittent multi-vehicle mobile operation advancing at a speed of no greater than 25 miles per hour for highway maintenance or construction purposes, including roadway striping, debris removal, and pothole repair.
B. The Department may establish a pilot program for the implementation and deployment of autonomous truck-mounted attenuators (ATMAs) within mobile work zones.
C. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when participating in such pilot program, ATMAs may be operated in autonomous mode within active mobile work zones on state-maintained highways. While operating in autonomous mode, an ATMA shall be deployed in a leader-follower configuration and shall be continuously monitored by a remote operator. Such remote operator shall have the capability to visually observe such ATMA's surroundings and adjust its path or bring it to a complete stop, as necessary. A human driver shall not be required to be physically present within an ATMA during such operation in autonomous mode. However, outside of active mobile work zones, including transport on public highways to and from such mobile work zones, ATMAs shall be operated by and occupied by a human driver in accordance with all applicable motor vehicle operation laws and regulations.
D. No ATMA may be utilized in such pilot program in any mobile work zone unless it has been successfully tested under a testing plan approved by the Department to demonstrate reliable operation and performance in a leader-follower configuration. Test results shall be reviewed and approved by the Department.
E. The Department shall submit an annual report summarizing the pilot program's status and efficacy to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Transportation no later than December 1 of each year.
2. That the provisions of this act shall expire on December 31, 2031.