Provide for the use of autonomous vehicles

This bill, known as the Montana Autonomous Vehicle Act, permits the operation of both partially and fully autonomous vehicles on state public highways. It establishes clear definitions for different levels of vehicle automation, from Level 1 systems that assist with braking or steering to Level 4 and 5 systems that can operate without human intervention. The legislation allows partially autonomous vehicles to be used immediately while requiring fully autonomous vehicles to comply with rules set by the Department of Transportation. Additionally, the bill mandates that anyone operating a partially autonomous vehicle from the driver's seat must hold a valid driver's license for that vehicle class.