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HB 2974

AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE TESTING

104th Regular Session Introduced by Curtis Tarver

Illinois HB2974 establishes a statewide Autonomous Vehicle Testing Program to regulate, coordinate, and oversee CAV testing and deployment, with a registration system and safety re

Referred to Rules Committee
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Bill Summary · HB 2974

Summary — HB 2974 ("Autonomous Vehicle Testing")

Note: The provided document appears to combine two different pieces of legislation that share the number HB 2974 in different jurisdictions. One is a short Arizona statutory insertion concerning Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) performance reporting. The other is a substantially longer Illinois bill titled the Illinois Autonomous Vehicle Testing Program Act. The summary below presents both parts clearly and objectively.

Purpose and intent

  • Primary (Illinois): Establish a statewide Illinois Autonomous Vehicle Testing Program (the Program) led by the Department of Transportation to promote, coordinate, and regulate the safe development, testing, and deployment of connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies.
  • Secondary (Arizona excerpt): Require an annual report to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee on motor vehicle division wait times and mail vehicle registration renewal turnaround times.

Key provisions — Illinois Autonomous Vehicle Testing Program Act

  • Department responsibilities:
    • Lead the Program and partner with state agencies, municipalities, universities, industry, and stakeholders.
    • Review best practices (vehicle testing, deployment, law enforcement cooperation, insurance, liability, data sharing, privacy, infrastructure).
    • Evaluate laws/regulations that may impede safe testing and deployment.
    • Maintain a public Program website and submit status reports to the Governor and General Assembly on or before every June 30 and December 31.
    • Develop workforce training and economic development strategies; identify pilot communities and public–private partnership opportunities.
  • Registration and notification:
    • Create a state registration/notification system for entities that wish to conduct CAV pilots/tests.
    • Participating entities must file an annual notification form (the Department may revise the form over time).
    • Form items include entity name/address, vehicle identification (make/model/license plate), authorized operators, operator training summary, testing locations, and certification of compliance.
  • Operational and safety requirements for participating entities:
    • A licensed driver must occupy the driver’s seat and be able to assume control when required during the testing period.
    • Only trained employees/contractors/authorized personnel may operate or monitor test vehicles.
    • Test vehicles must comply with applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and state/local traffic laws (except to the extent FMCSA exemptions apply).
    • Vehicles must have required motor vehicle insurance or other financial responsibility.
  • Enforcement and oversight:
    • Department may suspend an entity’s participation if there is clear evidence the technology is unsafe or violates Program requirements.
    • Department will assist in identifying appropriate communities/locations for testing.

Key provisions — Arizona insertion (Section 28-377)

  • Requires the Department (Arizona DOT/MVD) to report annually by July 31 to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee on progress improving MVD wait times and mail vehicle registration renewal turnaround times.
  • Report format should be similar to prior reports submitted to JLBC.

Who is affected

  • State Departments of Transportation (lead and implement the Program).
  • Private entities testing CAVs: automakers, technology firms, mobility providers, universities, and contractors.
  • Municipalities and selected local communities hosting pilots.
  • Motorists and vulnerable populations (elderly, disabled, underserved) — potentially beneficiaries of mobility pilots and safety-focused projects.
  • Insurers, law enforcement, and local/regulatory agencies involved in oversight, liability, data-sharing, and public safety.

Timeline / procedural aspects

  • Illinois bill text sets Program reporting dates (semiannual: June 30 and December 31) and an effective date of January 1, 2026 (per the bill text).
  • Arizona report is due annually on or before July 31.
  • Legislative history in the provided file shows many procedural steps (referrals, committee actions, amendments, votes) and a listed Governor veto on 2025-06-25; because the source aggregates records across jurisdictions, users should verify the current status with the official state legislative websites (Illinois General Assembly and Arizona Legislature) for the final disposition of each provision.
  • Companion/related bill noted: SB 1885.

If you want, I can:
- Pull the latest official status for Illinois HB2974 and Arizona HB2974 from the respective legislative websites, or
- Produce a one-page fact sheet focused exclusively on the Illinois Autonomous Vehicle Testing Program Act for stakeholder briefings.

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

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