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Bill

HR 563

A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study and issue a report on the impact driverless vehicles have on safety and the workforce.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Andre Carroll and 9 co-sponsors

Directs a year-long study of how driverless vehicles and PDDs affect safety, jobs, infrastructure, and access in Pennsylvania to inform policy decisions.

Referred to Communications & Technology
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Bill Summary · HR 563

Overview

  • Bill: HR 563
  • Session: 2025-2026
  • Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
  • Title: A Resolution directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a study and issue a report on the impact driverless vehicles have on safety and the workforce
  • Introduced: June 10, 2026
  • Referred to: Committee on Communications and Technology

Purpose and Intent

  • Directs the Joint State Government Commission (JSGC) to study and report on how driverless (autonomous) vehicles affect safety and the workforce in Pennsylvania.
  • Acknowledges that autonomous technology is evolving (levels 2–5) and may influence injury/fatality risk, employment in transportation-related sectors, and infrastructure needs.
  • Seeks to inform policymakers about safety risks/benefits, employment impacts, infrastructure costs, and access considerations, including in underserved communities.

Key Provisions and Areas of Study

The resolution requires the JSGC to examine and report on the following topics:

  1. Safety concerns and benefits

    • Evaluate safety risks and safety benefits of driverless vehicles (including Personal Delivery Devices, PDDs) for the general public.

  2. Workforce impact

    • Assess potential job losses or disruption to Pennsylvania workers in:
      • Taxi and ride-hailing (e.g., rideshare)
      • Food delivery
      • Freight/trucking industries

  3. Infrastructure and costs

    • Identify infrastructure needs and potential costs to the Commonwealth and municipalities, such as:
      • Upgrades to the electrical grid
      • Transportation network expansion
      • Highway safety adaptations to accommodate autonomous technology

  4. Localized and sensitive environments

    • Analyze the impact of driverless vehicles and PDDs in specific settings, including:
      • School zones, hospitals, police stations, fire stations, crime scenes, train stations, airports

  5. Access and equity

    • Explore whether driverless technology could improve access to transportation for underserved areas.

  6. Demographics and technology

    • Consider how safety, adoption, and recognition of driverless vehicle technology vary across diverse demographic groups.

  7. Assistance for riders with needs

    • Assess how driverless vehicle technology might affect the provision of physical assistance typically offered by human drivers to older or disabled riders during entry and exit.

Deliverable and Timeline

  • The JSGC must issue a formal report detailing its findings and recommendations.
  • Timing: The report must be delivered to the Senate and House of Representatives no later than one year after adoption of the resolution.
  • Distribution of the report:
    • Senate and House Communications and Technology Committees (chair and minority chair)
    • Senate and House Labor and Industry Committees (chair and minority chair)
    • Senate and House Transportation Committees (chair and minority chair)

Who Would Be Affected

  • Pennsylvania residents and workers in:
    • Taxi, rideshare, food delivery, and freight industries
    • Sectors dependent on human drivers or physical assistance in transportation
  • Local governments and state agencies responsible for transportation infrastructure, safety, and public services
  • Underserved communities that may gain or lose access to autonomous transportation options

Context and Considerations

  • The bill references current and emerging trends:
    • Multi-level autonomy (Levels 2–5) and AI involvement in safety
    • Ongoing regulatory developments at the federal and state levels
    • Real-world incidents with driverless technology (e.g., automated vehicle disruptions, testing on campuses, incidents in other states/countries)
  • It builds on Pennsylvania’s prior experience regulating PDDs (personal delivery devices) since 2020, including current rules about PDD operation, safety expectations, and pedestrian status.

Summary

HR 563 is a resolution directing a formal, year-long study by the Joint State Government Commission to map out the safety and workforce impacts of driverless vehicles and related devices (PDDs) in Pennsylvania. It calls for a broad assessment of safety benefits/risks, employment effects across multiple transportation and delivery sectors, necessary infrastructure upgrades and costs, and the implications for access and equity, particularly in sensitive settings and underserved communities. The resulting report would be shared with key legislative committees in both chambers to inform potential policy, regulatory, or funding decisions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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