House Transportation Committee hears wide testimony on bill to regulate autonomous vehicles

SALEM, Ore. — The House Committee on Transportation held a first public hearing on Feb. 9 for House Bill 4,085, a proposed statewide regulatory framework for commercial autonomous vehicles, hearing more than a dozen witnesses who offered sharply divided views on safety, local authority, accessibility and economic impacts.

Chair McLean, who sponsored the bill and said she has worked on autonomous‑vehicle policy since 2018, framed HB 4,085 as a "safety first" measure that would give the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) authority to create a uniform permitting and oversight program. She said the bill follows a multi‑year task force and aims for a slow rollout so the state can rely on data as it expands AV operations.

"It creates a consistent floor of safety and operational standards, just as ODOT already does for vehicle safety on all other vehicles on our roads," Chair McLean said, adding the bill preserves local enforcement of traffic laws and allows cities to collect per‑trip taxes in line with existing network‑company charges.

Supporters, including industry groups and disability advocates, said HB 4,085 would make Oregon consistent with other states and expand mobility for people who cannot drive. Michael McGee, West Coast policy manager for Waymo, cited company data and said the Waymo Driver has driven hundreds of millions of…