Hearing On D.C. Autonomous Vehicle Bill Highlights Benefits And Concerns

The Council of the District of Columbia's Committee on Transportation and the Environment held a public hearing on July 13, 2026, regarding the Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Authorization Amendment Act of 2026 (Bill 26-0684). Introduced by Committee Chair Charles Allen (Ward 6), the bill would create a regulatory pathway for the commercial operation of autonomous vehicles (AVs) in the District through a new Commercial Autonomous Vehicles Program. Currently, the District allows only AV companies to engage in testing with a test operator present in the vehicle. Under the proposed legislation, certain AVs would be allowed to transport passengers and goods through an iterative process. Witnesses at the daylong hearing highlighted several controversial provisions of the bill, including a $1 million application fee, a $5 million operating permit fee, a $1 million renewal fee, a 200-vehicle fleet cap and moratorium on paid rides until 2028.