HB 26-1286

House Bill 26-1286, also known as the Automated Driving System Commercial Vehicles bill, prohibits using self-driving technology to operate commercial trucks in Colorado unless a licensed commercial driver is present and ready to take control if needed. If the truck carries hazardous materials, the driver must sit in the driver's seat at all times. Violations come with fines starting at $1,000 for first offenses. The law will be reviewed by 2030, and it will expire on September 1, 2031, unless extended based on a report from the Colorado State Patrol about its impact on safety.

Official Summary

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     The prohibition is repealed September 1, 2031.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.)

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