hb1034_00

As Introduced

136th General Assembly

Regular Session H. B. No. 1034

2025-2026

To amend sections 3942.01, 3942.02, and 4511.34 and to enact sections 4511.206, 4511.207, 4511.208, 4511.209, 4511.2010, and 4511.2011 of the Revised Code to authorize the operation of autonomous vehicles on public roads and highways.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That sections 3942.01, 3942.02, and 4511.34 be amended and sections 4511.206, 4511.207, 4511.208, 4511.209, 4511.2010, and 4511.2011 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 3942.01. As used in this chapter:

(A) "Automobile insurance policy" has the same meaning as in section 3937.30 of the Revised Code.

(B) "Chauffeured limousine" has the same meaning as in section 4501.01 of the Revised Code.

(C) "Digital network" means any online-enabled application, software, web site, or system offered or utilized by a transportation network company that enables the prearrangement of rides or the transport of goods with transportation network company drivers or fully autonomous vehicles.

(D) "Personal vehicle" means a vehicle to which all of the following apply:

(1) The vehicle is used by a transportation network company driver.

(2) The vehicle is owned, leased, or otherwise authorized for use by the transportation network company driver.

(3) The vehicle is not a taxicab or other similar vehicle for hire, unless the vehicle is being used to provide transportation network company services on behalf of a transportation network company that has been issued a permit under section 4925.02 of the Revised Code.

(4) The vehicle is not a chauffeured limousine or a vehicle being operated pursuant to a ridesharing arrangement.

(5) The vehicle is not a fully autonomous vehicle.

(E) "Ridesharing arrangement" has the same meaning as in section 4921.01 of the Revised Code.

(F) "Transportation network company" includes a corporation, partnership, association, limited liability company, proprietorship, or any other entity operating in this state that uses a digital network to connect transportation network company riders to transportation network company drivers or fully autonomous vehicles who provide transportation network company services.

(G) "Transportation network company driver" or "driver" means an individual to whom both of the following apply:

(1) The individual receives connections to passengers and potential passengers and related services from a transportation network company in exchange for the payment of a fee to the company.

(2) The individual uses a personal vehicle to offer or provide transportation network company services to riders upon connection through a digital network controlled by a transportation network company in return for compensation or payment of a fee.

(H) "Transportation network company rider" or "rider" means an individual or individuals using a transportation network company's digital network to connect with a transportation network company driver ~~who~~ or a fully autonomous vehicle that provides transportation network company services to the individual in a personal vehicle or the full autonomous vehicle between points chosen by the individual.

(I)(1) "Transportation network company services" means the provision of transportation beginning when a transportation network company driver accepts a ride requested by a rider or when a fully autonomous vehicle is dispatched to retrieve a rider or to transport goods through a digital network controlled by a transportation network company, continuing while the driver or fully autonomous vehicle transports the requesting rider or the goods, and ending when the last requesting rider departs from the personal vehicle or the fully autonomous vehicle or when the goods have arrived at the predetermined location.

(2) "Transportation network company services" do not include services provided by any of the following:

(a) A taxicab or other similar vehicle for hire, unless the taxicab or other vehicle is providing the services described in division (I)(1) of this section on behalf of a transportation network company that has been issued a permit under section 4925.02 of the Revised Code;

(b) A chauffeured limousine;

(J) "Fully autonomous vehicle" and "human driver" have the same meanings as in section 4511.206 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3942.02. (A)(1) Each transportation network company driver or fully autonomous vehicle shall be covered by a primary automobile insurance policy that recognizes that the driver is a transportation network company driver or otherwise uses a vehicle to transport passengers for compensation ~~and provides~~or recognizes that the fully autonomous vehicle is used to transport passengers or goods for compensation. The primary automobile insurance policy shall provide coverage during both of the following periods of time:

(a) While the driver or fully autonomous vehicle is logged on to the transportation network company's digital network;

(b) While the driver or fully autonomous vehicle is engaged in transportation network company services.

(2) The primary automobile insurance policy required by division (A)(1) of this section shall meet the following coverage requirements:

(a) While a transportation network company driver or fully autonomous vehicle is logged on to the transportation network company's digital network and is available to receive transportation requests but is not engaged in transportation network company services, primary automobile insurance shall be maintained in the following amounts:

(i) At least fifty thousand dollars because of bodily injury to or death of one person in any one accident;

(ii) At least one hundred thousand dollars because of bodily injury or death of two or more persons in any one accident;

(iii) At least twenty-five thousand dollars because of injury to property of others in any one accident.

(b) While a transportation network company driver or fully autonomous vehicle is engaged in transportation network company services, primary automobile insurance shall be maintained in an amount of at least one million dollars because of bodily injury or death of one or more persons or injury to property of others in any one accident.

(3) ~~The~~ Except as provided in division (A)(4) of this section, the insurance required by divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section may be satisfied by either of the following or a combination of the following:

(a) An automobile insurance policy that is maintained by the transportation network company driver;

(b) An automobile insurance policy that is maintained by the transportation network company.

(4) If the insurance required by divisions (A)(1) and (2) of this section covers a fully autonomous vehicle, the automobile insurance policy shall be maintained by the transportation network company.

(B)(1) If personal automobile insurance maintained by a transportation network company driver does not provide liability coverage in the amounts required by division (A)(2) of this section, insurance maintained by the transportation network company shall provide the required coverage, beginning with the first dollar of the claim and shall have the duty to defend the claim.

(2) An automobile insurance policy maintained by a transportation network company in accordance with this section shall not require the driver's personal automobile insurer or policy to first deny a claim before providing coverage.

(1) A domestic, foreign, or alien insurance company organized or admitted under Title XXXIX of the Revised Code to issue such a policy;

(2) An insurer not holding a license in this state if both of the following criteria are met:

(a) The insurer is an eligible surplus lines insurance company and the policy is obtained through a person or entity that holds a surplus lines broker's license in accordance with sections 3905.30 to 3905.38 of the Revised Code or the insurer is an eligible risk retention group.

(b) The insurer has a credit rating of not less than "A-" from A.M. Best or "A" from Demotech or a similar rating from another rating agency recognized by the department of insurance.

~~(D)~~(D)(1) A transportation network company driver shall carry proof of insurance satisfying the coverage requirements of division (A)(2) of this section either physically or through use of an electronic wireless communications device described in section 4509.103 of the Revised Code at all times during the driver's use of a personal vehicle in connection with a transportation network company's digital network. In the event of an accident, the driver shall provide this insurance information to all parties claiming an interest in the insurance, other insurers, and upon request of a peace officer or state highway patrol trooper in accordance with division (D)(2) of section 4509.101 of the Revised Code. Upon such a request, the driver also shall disclose to the interested parties, insurers, and officers and troopers whether the driver was logged on to the transportation network company's digital network or was providing transportation network company services at the time of the accident.

(2) A transportation network company that dispatches a fully autonomous vehicle to provide transportation network company services on the public streets and highways of this state without a human driver shall ensure that the vehicle contains access to an interaction plan in accordance with section 4511.208 of the Revised Code.

(E) An automobile insurance policy that meets the requirements of this section satisfies the proof of financial responsibility for motor vehicles required under Chapter 4509. of the Revised Code.

(F) The insurance coverage requirements of this chapter shall apply to taxicabs only during the periods during which the taxicab is performing transportation network company services. When a taxicab is performing taxi services, the insurance requirements applicable to taxicabs shall apply. While a taxicab is operating as a taxicab and not performing transportation network company services, it shall comply with all laws, ordinances, and rules relating to taxicabs.

Sec. 4511.206. As used in sections 4511.206 to 4511.2010 of the Revised Code:

(A) "Automated driving system" means the hardware and software that are collectively capable of performing the entire dynamic driving task for a motor vehicle on a sustained basis, regardless of whether it is limited to a specific operational design domain.

(B) "Dynamic driving task" means both of the following:

(1) Operational functions, including steering, braking, accelerating, monitoring the motor vehicle and the roadway, and other related actions;

(2) Tactical functions, including responding to events, determining when to change lanes, turning, using signals, and other related actions.

"Dynamic driving task" does not include strategic aspects of a driving task, including trip scheduling and determining destinations or waypoints.

(C) "Fully autonomous vehicle" means a motor vehicle, including a commercial motor vehicle, equipped with an automated driving system designed to function without a human driver as a level four system or level five system.

(D) "Human driver" means a natural person within a fully autonomous vehicle who holds a valid driver's license, is authorized to operate the vehicle, and is capable of controlling all or part of the dynamic driving task.

(E) "Level five system" means the level five system described in SAE J3016-2021.

(F) "Level four system" means the level four system described in SAE J3016-2021.

(G) "Minimal risk condition" means the operating condition under which a fully autonomous vehicle responds to a command issued by a human driver, another person, or the automated driving system in order to reduce the risk of a collision, if the trip programmed into the vehicle cannot or should not be completed.

(H) "Operational design domain" means the operating conditions under which an automated driving system is specifically designed to function, including environmental, geographical, and time-of-day restrictions, and the requisite presence or absence of certain traffic or roadway characteristics.

(I) "Request to intervene" means a notification that is given by an automated driving system to a human driver that the human driver should promptly begin or resume performance of part or all of a dynamic driving task.

Sec. 4511.207. (A) The regulation and the operation of autonomous vehicles and automated driving systems are a matter of general statewide concern that requires statewide regulation. Accordingly, except as otherwise authorized in the Revised Code, it is the intent of the general assembly to create uniform laws that are applicable throughout the state and to preempt any local ordinance, resolution, or other law adopted to regulate such operation of autonomous vehicles and automated driving systems.

(B) Nothing in division (A) of this section prohibits or restricts the operator of a public-use airport from doing both of the following:

(1) Charging reasonable fees to companies that use airport facilities to provide autonomous vehicle services;

(2) Designating locations for autonomous vehicle operations and logistics including vehicle staging, pickup, dropoff, or other similar operations.

Sec. 4511.208. (A) A manufacturer of fully autonomous vehicles shall publish and maintain an interaction plan for any of its fully autonomous vehicles that operate or are intended for operation on the public streets and highways of this state without a human driver. The interaction plan shall describe all of the following:

(1) How to communicate with a fleet support specialist at all times that the fully autonomous vehicle is in operation;

(2) How to safely remove the fully autonomous vehicle from the street or highway and steps to safely tow the vehicle that are in accordance with Chapter 4513. of the Revised Code;

(3) How to recognize whether the fully autonomous vehicle is in autonomous mode;

(4) Any additional information necessary regarding hazardous conditions or public safety risks associated with the operation of the fully autonomous vehicle.

(B) The manufacturer of a fully autonomous vehicle shall ensure that the interaction plan is readily accessible, both inside and outside of the vehicle, to law enforcement, emergency medical service personnel, and firefighters in the event of an accident, collision, or other emergency.

(C) The manufacturer of a fully autonomous vehicle shall make the interaction plan available on the manufacturer's web site.

Sec. 4511.209. (A) No person shall knowingly operate or permit the operation of a fully autonomous vehicle on the public streets or highways of this state without a human driver unless the vehicle meets the following conditions:

(1) The fully autonomous vehicle is registered in accordance with Chapter 4503. of the Revised Code, titled in accordance with Chapter 4505. of the Revised Code, and meets federal and state motor vehicle equipment standards and regulations that apply to such a vehicle. However, any state motor vehicle standards or regulations that apply to a fully autonomous vehicle are inapplicable if they contradict federal statutes, lack relevance to autonomous driving technology, or pertain exclusively to vehicles operated or driven by a human driver.

(2) The automated driving system is engaged at all times in its operational design domain.

(3) If the automated driving system experiences a failure and the system is unable to perform the entire dynamic driving task relevant to its intended operational design domain, the fully autonomous vehicle is programmed to achieve a minimal risk condition.

(4) The fully autonomous vehicle is capable of complying with the traffic laws under Chapter 4511. of the Revised Code or substantially equivalent municipal ordinances that apply to such a vehicle. However, any provision that reasonably applies only to a human driver does not apply to a fully autonomous vehicle operating with the automated driving system engaged.

(5) When required by federal law, the fully autonomous vehicle displays the required manufacturer's certification label indicating that at the time of the vehicle's manufacture it was certified to be in compliance with all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards.

(6) The fully autonomous vehicle contains access to an interaction plan in accordance with section 4511.208 of the Revised Code.

(B) No person shall knowingly operate or permit the operation of a fully autonomous vehicle with the automated driving system engaged on the public streets or highways of this state with a human driver unless all of the following apply:

(2) The human driver of that fully autonomous vehicle is physically present in the fully autonomous vehicle, monitors the fully autonomous vehicle at all times during operation, and is capable of taking immediate control of the fully autonomous vehicle if an emergency occurs or if there is a request to intervene.

(3) The fully autonomous vehicle contains access to an interaction plan in accordance with section 4511.208 of the Revised Code.

(C) Nothing in this section prohibits or restricts a human driver from operating a fully autonomous vehicle if both of the following apply:

(1) The fully autonomous vehicle is equipped with controls that allow for the human driver to control the dynamic driving task.

(2) The automated driving system is not engaged during the operation of the fully autonomous vehicle.

(D) Nothing in this section prohibits or restricts an individual from riding as a passenger in a fully autonomous vehicle. An individual who rides in a fully autonomous vehicle that is being operated in compliance with division (A) of this section is not required to possess a valid driver's license or be capable of taking immediate control of the fully autonomous vehicle.

Sec. 4511.2010. (A) For purposes of this section and any motor vehicle-related offense under Title XXIX or Title XLV of the Revised Code, the operator of a fully autonomous vehicle is either of the following:

(1) The human driver if that human driver was present in the fully autonomous vehicle and the automated driving system was not engaged during the operation of the fully autonomous vehicle at the time of the offense;

(2) If division (A)(1) of this section does not apply, the registered owner of the fully autonomous vehicle.

(B)(1) Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, if a fully autonomous vehicle is operated in violation of a motor vehicle-related provision of Title XXIX or Title XLV of the Revised Code, the operator of the vehicle, as described under division (A) of this section, is subject to all applicable penalties prescribed for a violation of that provision of Title XXIX or Title XLV of the Revised Code.

(2) Chapter 4510. of the Revised Code does not apply when the operator is the person described under division (A)(2) of this section.

(C) Title XLV of the Revised Code applies to fully autonomous vehicles in the same manner as other motor vehicles, except to the extent that sections 4511.206 to 4511.2010 of the Revised Code clearly provide otherwise.

Sec. 4511.2011. (A) As used in this section:

(1) "Connected vehicle" means a motor vehicle that exchanges information with another motor vehicle, with infrastructure, or with other road users by way of electronic communications technology.

(2) "Vehicle platoon" means the linking of two or more connected vehicles using electronic vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology where the first connected vehicle in the platoon sets the speed and direction for the rest of the connected vehicles enabling all connected vehicles in the platoon to follow at a close distance.

(B) No person shall knowingly permit the operation of a vehicle platoon on the public streets and highways unless all of the following apply:

(1) There are not more than three connected vehicles in the vehicle platoon.

(2) The vehicle platoon is operated on either a state highway or a highway that is part of the interstate system.

(3) The person has complied with division (C) of this section.

(C)(1) A person that wishes to permit the operation of a vehicle platoon on the public streets and highways in accordance with division (B) of this section shall file and review a plan for general platoon operations with the department of transportation. The director of transportation, or the director's designee, shall review the plan in consultation with the superintendent of the state highway patrol, or the superintendent's designee, if applicable, within thirty days of receipt of the plan.

(2) A person that submits a plan under division (C)(1) of this section may operate the vehicle platoon if one of the following occurs:

(a) The director affirms the plan for general platoon operations.

(b) The director does not respond to the applicant under division (C)(1) of this section within thirty days of receiving the plan.

(D) Each connected vehicle that is a part of a vehicle platoon shall be marked with a visual identifier in such a manner that other drivers know that the connected vehicles are operating in a vehicle platoon. The director, in consultation with the superintendent, shall establish the criteria for and placement of the visual identifier.

Sec. 4511.34. (A) The operator of a motor vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley shall not follow another vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley, and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.

The driver of any truck, or motor vehicle drawing another vehicle, when traveling upon a roadway outside a business or residence district shall maintain a sufficient space, whenever conditions permit, between such vehicle and another vehicle ahead so an overtaking motor vehicle may enter and occupy such space without danger. This paragraph does not prevent overtaking and passing nor does it apply to any lane specially designated for use by trucks.

Outside a municipal corporation, the driver of any truck, or motor vehicle when drawing another vehicle, while ascending to the crest of a grade beyond which the driver's view of a roadway is obstructed, shall not follow within three hundred feet of another truck, or motor vehicle drawing another vehicle. This paragraph shall not apply to any lane specially designated for use by trucks or a vehicle platoon as defined in section 4511.208 of the Revised Code.

Motor vehicles being driven upon any roadway outside of a business or residence district in a caravan or motorcade, shall maintain a sufficient space between such vehicles so an overtaking vehicle may enter and occupy such space without danger. This paragraph shall not apply to funeral processions.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.

If the offender commits the offense while distracted and the distracting activity is a contributing factor to the commission of the offense, the offender is subject to the additional fine established under section 4511.991 of the Revised Code.

Section 2. That existing sections 3942.01, 3942.02, and 4511.34 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.