SF 4381
Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 03/24/2026 10:31 a.m.
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A bill for an act
relating to transportation; establishing advisory board to study impacts of
commercial autonomous vehicle operations implementation; establishing minimum
requirements for operation of commercial autonomous vehicles; requiring permit
process for commercial autonomous vehicle operations; proposing coding for new
law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 169.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
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[169.251] COMMERCIAL AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE OPERATIONS.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end
new text begin Definitions. new text end
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(a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
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(b) "Autonomous vehicle" means a vehicle equipped with technology that has been
integrated into the vehicle that meets the definition of Level 3, Level 4, or Level 5 in the
April 2021 revision of standard J3016, "Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to
Driving Automation Systems for On-Road Motor Vehicles," published by SAE International.
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(c) "Commercial autonomous vehicle operations" means the use of autonomous vehicles
for commercial purposes, including but not limited to transporting passengers or goods.
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(d) "Advisory board" means the Commercial Autonomous Vehicle Operations Labor
and Small Business Impact Advisory Board established under subdivision 4.
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(e) "Human safety operator" means a natural person who is properly licensed to operate
the vehicle and is seated in the driver seat of the vehicle.
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(f) "Transportation network company" has the meaning given in section 65B.472,
subdivision 1.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end
new text begin Operation limitations. new text end
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Commercial autonomous vehicle operations are
prohibited in Minnesota until the study set forth in subdivision 5 is completed and the
commercial autonomous vehicle operations permit process has been established by the
commissioner pursuant to subdivision 3. No entity may begin commercial autonomous
vehicle operations without a permit issued by the commissioner.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end
new text begin Permit process. new text end
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The commissioner must develop a commercial autonomous
vehicle operations permit process based on the study and recommendations provided pursuant
to subdivision 5. The permit process must include, at a minimum, an individual evaluation
of every permit applicant conducted by the advisory board under subdivision 6.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end
new text begin Advisory board; members. new text end
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(a) The Commercial Autonomous Vehicle
Operations Labor and Small Business Impact Advisory Board is established to evaluate
commercial autonomous vehicle operations permit applications and provide recommendations
to the commissioner. The advisory board is composed of the following members:
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(1) the commissioner or a designee;
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(2) the commissioner of public safety or a designee;
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(3) the commissioner of commerce or a designee;
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(4) the attorney general or a designee;
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(5) one member of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house;
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(6) one member of the senate appointed by the senate majority leader;
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(7) one representative from the driver workforce in the private sector appointed by the
governor;
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(8) one representative from the driver workforce in the public sector appointed by the
governor;
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(9) one rideshare driver appointed by the governor;
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(10) one representative from the disability rights community appointed by the governor;
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(11) one representative from a municipal government appointed by the governor;
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(12) one representative from a consumer rights advocacy group appointed by the
governor; and
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(13) one representative from an autonomous vehicle company appointed by the governor.
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(b) The commissioners or their designees appointed under paragraph (a), clauses (1) to
(3), must serve as cochairs of the advisory board.
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(c) The Department of Transportation must provide administrative, staffing, and technical
support to the advisory board.
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new text begin Subd. 5. new text end
new text begin Commercial autonomous vehicle operations study. new text end
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(a) The advisory board
must enlist an independent research institution with expertise in rideshare labor economics
to conduct a comprehensive review of commercial autonomous vehicle operations and
evaluate its potential deployment in Minnesota. The review must include but is not limited
to:
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(1) an independent economic impact study to determine the short- and long-term effects
of commercial autonomous vehicle operations on rideshare drivers and commercial drivers
and workforce displacement projections;
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(2) economic impacts on transportation network company drivers;
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(3) reemployment pathways for displaced rideshare drivers and commercial drivers;
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(4) economic displacement impacts on businesses that serve rideshare drivers and
commercial drivers;
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(5) financial impacts on Minnesota, including those due to reduction in tax revenues;
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(6) accessibility offerings and supports for people with disabilities;
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(7) legal liability in the event of a collision;
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(8) algorithmic management, including requiring public notification for any changes to
the algorithm that could impact how autonomous vehicles interact with other vehicles or
pedestrians;
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(9) financial and infrastructure impacts on cities and the state;
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(10) development of a certification process not overseen by the autonomous vehicle
industry;
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(11) potential for interference with first responders;
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(12) an evaluation of autonomous vehicles' ability to navigate city streets; and
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(13) an assessment of congestion impacts of commercial autonomous vehicle operations.
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(b) The advisory board must hold public hearings subject to the Open Meeting Law
under chapter 13D to obtain testimony from rideshare drivers, commercial drivers, and
members of the public. The advisory board must accept public comment for no fewer than
30 days after the release of any preliminary findings.
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(c) By February 1, 2027, the advisory board must publish a final report on the Department
of Transportation's website. The report must include recommendations to the commissioner
on whether commercial autonomous vehicle operations should be allowed to operate in
Minnesota and potential requirements for a permit process to authorize commercial
autonomous vehicle operations.
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(d) This subdivision expires February 1, 2027, or upon publication of the report required
under paragraph (c), whichever is later.
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new text begin Subd. 6. new text end
new text begin Permit applicant studies. new text end
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(a) The advisory board must evaluate every applicant
for a commercial autonomous vehicle operations permit before a permit may be issued. For
each region in which the applicant seeks to operate, the advisory board must evaluate:
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(1) economic impacts on transportation network company drivers;
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(2) reemployment pathways for displaced rideshare drivers and commercial drivers;
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(3) economic displacement impacts on businesses that serve rideshare drivers and
commercial drivers;
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(4) financial impacts, including those due to reduction in tax revenues;
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(5) accessibility offerings and supports for people with disabilities;
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(6) legal liability in the event of a collision;
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(7) algorithmic management, including requiring public notification for any changes to
the algorithm that could impact how autonomous vehicles interact with other vehicles or
pedestrians;
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(8) financial and infrastructure impacts;
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(9) potential for interference with first responders;
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(10) autonomous vehicles' ability to navigate; and
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(11) congestion impacts.
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(b) Based on the results of the evaluation under paragraph (a), the advisory board must
provide a nonbinding recommendation to the commissioner whether or not to approve the
application.
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new text begin Subd. 7. new text end
new text begin Human safety operator. new text end
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A commercial autonomous vehicle operations permit
issued by the commissioner must include the following requirements:
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(1) an autonomous vehicle must not transport passengers or goods unless a human safety
operator is physically present in the vehicle and has the ability at all times to monitor the
performance of the vehicle and intervene if necessary, including but not limited to taking
over immediate manual control of the vehicle or shutting off the vehicle; and
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(2) autonomous vehicles and human safety operators must meet all applicable local,
state, and federal requirements.
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new text begin Subd. 8. new text end
new text begin Severability. new text end
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If any provision of this section or the application thereof to any
person or circumstance is held invalid for any reason in a court of competent jurisdiction,
the invalidity does not affect other provisions or any other application of this section that
can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
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This section is effective the day following final enactment.
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