Alaska committee hears opposing public testimony on bill to limit commercial autonomous vehicles

The Alaska House Transportation Committee took public testimony Feb. 24 on House Bill 217, a measure aimed at imposing driver requirements and other guardrails on commercial autonomous vehicles operating in the state. Committee co‑chair Rep. Ted Eisheide opened the hearing and set a three‑minute limit for each testifier.

Dennis Young, president of the International Longshore Warehouse Union’s Alaska division, urged support for the bill and said communities and workers must come first. "It should be people before profit," Young said, arguing that companies currently rely on worker labor to train automated systems and that guardrails are needed to protect jobs and safety.

Calling in from California, Robert Singleton, senior director of policy and public affairs at Chamber of Progress, urged the committee to oppose HB 217. He said the bill’s driver‑ownership requirement for commercial AVs would "effectually" ban some deployments in Alaska because the measure lacks a pilot program, permit pathway or sunset clause. Singleton cited industry data, telling the committee that recent autonomous vehicle miles recorded substantially fewer serious or fatal crashes and said broad deployment could create new jobs, especially technical and maintenance roles.

Other outside witnesses split the difference: truck driver Thor Brown, calling from Anchorage, endorsed the bill on safety and workforce grounds, saying Alaska’s weather and terrain make a trained human driver essential. Rose Feliciano of TechNet acknowledged the bill’s safety intent but warned it could unintentionally prevent autonomous operations in Alaska and asked to work with sponsors on alternatives.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about automation levels and whether the bill addresses only commercial operations; witnesses confirmed HB 217 is focused on commercial AVs. The committee set an amendment deadline for HB 217 of Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 5 p.m.; members asked staff for material describing automation levels (0–4) to inform further consideration.

Why it matters: HB 217 would shape whether and how commercial autonomous vehicle technology can be used in Alaska’s challenging road and weather conditions. Supporters stressed local job and safety concerns; industry witnesses said a rigid driver requirement could lock Alaska out of evolving deployment models that advocates say reduce crash rates.

The committee will consider amendments at its next meeting on Feb. 26.