Committee hears proponents for using approved apps in driver training; students describe delays

Jason Rather, innovation officer at Grange Insurance, testified in favor of House Bill 463, which would allow approved technology and mobile apps to count toward some in-car driver training requirements. Rather said the bill focuses on three goals: affordability, availability and accessibility, and argued approved technology could lower costs, "double the capacity" of driving schools and avoid the need for taxpayer dollars.

Committee members pressed on implementation questions. Representative Klopfenstein asked about backlog and wait times; Rather said peak wait times can reach three to five months for highly desired in-car slots and that technology must be reviewed and approved by the Ohio Department of Public Safety before use. Members also asked about lowering the minimum permit age from 15½ to 15; Rather characterized that as a public-policy decision for lawmakers and said neighboring states have similar ages.

Student witness Logan Patterson, a senior at Dublin Coffman High School, described navigating the current system and said it took about eight months between his temporary permit and receiving a license. He told the committee that having validated app-based training and immediate feedback would have reduced scheduling and family burdens and helped him complete required hours more easily.

What’s next: House Bill 463 had a second hearing; committee members signaled interest but raised questions about how to validate technology and how to manage capacity increases if the law changes.