HB 581 Utah House · 2026 General Session

Autonomous Vehicle Amendments

HB 581 requires large public transit districts in Utah to gather information about implementing self-driving bus networks by November 2026. It directs the state Department of Transportation to similarly collect data on autonomous vehicle technology, including costs, timelines, and potential benefits. The bill defines key terms like "driverless operation" and "automated driving systems" to clarify future regulations. These information requests aim to inform state decisions about self-driving transit systems without creating new funding or requirements.

Issues: ✓ Technology

Bill status passed 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Governor

Introduced Feb 18, 2026 Last action Mar 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute #1 → Substitute #2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill substitutes a new version of HB 581 that removes the proposal to create a new 'Autonomous Innovation Grant Program' for the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity. Instead, the bill focuses solely on requiring the Department of Transportation and large public transit districts to gather information about autonomous vehicles and their implementation. Additionally, the bill updates legal definitions related to automated driving systems and adjusts repeal dates for previous legislation.

Scope change

The bill's scope was significantly narrowed by removing the authorization for state grants to support autonomous vehicle research and deployment, shifting the focus entirely to information gathering and definition updates.

FISCAL

The proposal to create the 'Autonomous Innovation Grant Program' and authorize the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity to award grants for autonomous vehicle research, testing, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure was completely removed.

TIMELINE

The repeal date for Section 17B-2a-829 was changed from July 1, 2027, to July 1, 2026, and the repeal date for Section 72-1-219 was changed from July 1, 2028, to July 1, 2027.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'ADS-dedicated vehicle' was modified to remove the word 'exclusively' before 'by a level four ADS or level five ADS', and the definition of 'Automated driving system' was slightly rephrased.

TECHNICAL

The Senate sponsor name was changed from 'LONG TITLE' to 'Kirk A. Cullimore', and various formatting inconsistencies in the definitions section were corrected.

Introduced → Substitute #1 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill significantly updates Utah's autonomous vehicle laws by adding new definitions for driverless operations, creating a pilot program for autonomous transit ahead of the 2034 Olympics, and establishing a grant program for industry incentives. It also clarifies liability rules for automated driving systems and introduces requirements for public transit districts to study autonomous vehicle networks. The bill includes technical corrections to existing statutes and repeals outdated study requirements.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of autonomous vehicle regulations to include specific definitions for 'driverless operation' and 'dispatch,' extends study requirements to include advanced air mobility and vertiports, and creates new programs for grants and pilot testing that were not present in the original version.

FISCAL

Created a new 'Autonomous Innovation Grant Program' administered by the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity to award grants for research, testing, and deployment of autonomous vehicles and charging infrastructure.

TIMELINE

Established an autonomous transportation pilot program to facilitate transit services in advance of the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, with a goal to prioritize scalable deployment by December 31, 2030.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'ADS-dedicated vehicle,' 'driverless operation,' 'dispatch,' 'fallback-ready user,' and 'remote driver' to clarify how automated systems interact with human operators.

REQUIREMENT

Requires large public transit districts to complete a request for information and report to the Transportation Interim Committee regarding the feasibility and implementation of autonomous vehicle public transit networks.

Removed a requirement for the Department of Transportation to conduct a study on electric and autonomous motor vehicles, as this study was replaced by new, broader study items in the substitute version.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions stating that manufacturers cannot require continuous steering inputs or visual attention from drivers when an automated driving system is engaged, and clarified that manufacturers remain liable for system malfunctions.

SCOPE

Expanded the Department of Transportation's study items to include advanced air mobility, vertiport locations, unmanned aircraft traffic management, and the creation of an advanced air mobility sandbox.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified the criteria for clean fuel vehicle decals to allow the Department of Transportation to increase the number of decals issued through rulemaking if it helps meet operational management goals for designated lanes.

Floor votes · House Mar 4, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 4, 2026

Introduced

Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

House/ passed 3rd reading

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

House/ committee report favorable [House Transportation Committee]

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

House Comm - Favorable Recommendation [House Transportation Committee]

lower

Feb 27, 2026

Committee

House/ to standing committee [House Transportation Committee]

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Introduced

House/ 1st reading (Introduced)

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor