House approves task force to study unaccompanied minors in driverless vehicles after heated debate

Representative Quan brought HB 31 to the House floor as a temporary working group to examine safety and policy questions around autonomous vehicles, with particular emphasis on unaccompanied minors in driverless vehicles. Quan said the measure is a voluntary, temporary forum—or "sandbox"—to bring together industry, parents, childcare and safety partners as technology advances.

The sponsor noted industry support from manufacturers and mobility companies and framed the group as forward-looking and nonregulatory. "This is a...opportunity for us to lead...giving the opportunity and the structure for our industry as well as community partners such as parents and childcare and DPS to have an efficient way for them to come together," Quan said on the floor.

Opponents raised questions about creating another commission involving legislators, potential per-diem costs and liability exposure. Representative Thurston said the Legislature had recently worked to trim boards and commissions that involve legislators and argued that existing venues such as UDOT or interim committees could handle the issue. "Creating another task force that involves legislators...there's no fiscal note, but yet those legislators would be eligible for per diem," Thurston said.

Representative Sagers questioned why Utah should create a "sandbox" that other states apparently had not, and whether test tracks or other approaches could avoid state exposure to litigation. Sagers said the concept raised liability concerns if accidents occurred under state-enabled deployments.

Supporters including Representative Briscoe and Representative Christiansen urged the body to move proactively. Briscoe noted historic examples of earlier transportation transitions and said industry support could accelerate adoption in the state. "When I look at who's behind the help... Ford, Lyft... if anything, I think if we pass this, we could speed up the adoption of autonomous vehicle use in this state," Briscoe said.

The sponsor answered questions on scope, saying the group focuses on unaccompanied minors (for example, who would protect a toddler in a driverless vehicle) while other conversations about adult use were ongoing in the market. The sponsor also responded that the bill does not provide legislative per diem and that the fiscal note was $0.

The House called the question to end debate and then passed HB 31 by a roll-call vote of 41 yes and 33 no. The bill will be transmitted to the Senate for further consideration.