Virginia moves toward self-driving rules

Virginia is moving closer to a formal rulebook for self-driving vehicles, but the state has not banned testing or deployment. A work group created by a 2025 law met on July 24 to weigh safety, liability, privacy, cybersecurity and operating rules for autonomous vehicles, according to News From The States and Virginia law. Virginia currently has no specific legislation or regulation governing autonomous-vehicle testing, permitting or deployment, according to the Virginia Association of Counties’ summary of the work group’s work. That leaves the state with no settled framework for agency oversight, insurance requirements or law-enforcement interaction, even as other states such as Arizona and Texas continue to allow testing and deployment. (newsfromthestates.com) ### Why is Virginia writing rules now instead of banning self-driving vehicles? The 2025 General Assembly directed the Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security, to convene a work group on autonomous driving systems. The law requires the group to identify operational, technical and legal issues and develop draft legislation for the Commonwealth. (vaco.org) Nathaniel Cline reported on August 5 that Virginia lawmakers are trying to get ahead of issues that have emerged elsewhere as interest in the technology grows in the state. The July 24 meeting focused in part on keeping a single statewide system rather than allowing local governments to set separate rules. (law.lis.virginia.gov) ### What did lawmakers say about local rules? Del. David Reid, a Loudoun County Democrat, said at the July 24 meeting that Virginia should avoid letting localities decide “where, when, or how autonomous vehicles are going to be used.” He said the state should not have “133 different thoughts and jurisdictions” on deployment. (newsfromthestates.com) The Virginia Association of Counties said the work group discussed the risk of a fragmented regulatory environment, sometimes described as “balkanization,” if individual localities adopt conflicting approaches. The same summary said bills that would have created a broader commercial AV framework in 2026 did not pass. (newsfromthestates.com) ### What kinds of vehicles and systems are under discussion? Virginia bill text for SB 670 defines a “fully autonomous vehicle” as a Level 4 or Level 5 system under SAE J3016, meaning a vehicle designed to function without a human driver. The bill text also defines an “automated driving system” as hardware and software capable of performing the entire dynamic driving task on a sustained basis. (vaco.org) News From The States reported that staff and consultants recommended a multi-stage regulatory framework and permitting process that would evaluate safety before and during operation on public roads. The recommendations were aimed at two levels of automation: conditional and high automation. (lis.virginia.gov) ### What are the safety and liability issues Virginia is trying to answer? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requires manufacturers and operators to report certain crashes involving vehicles equipped with automated driving systems or certain advanced driver-assistance systems. Federal crash-reporting rules exist, but Virginia’s work group is examining state questions including permitting, liability, privacy, cybersecurity and operating rules. (newsfromthestates.com) The Virginia Association of Counties said Virginia has not yet determined which state agency would oversee AV deployment, what liability coverage would be required, or whether operators would need a law-enforcement interaction plan. Its summary of the July work session said safety data reviewed by state researchers was “promising, but inconclusive.” (nhtsa.gov) ### Why does this matter for employers, not just car companies? HB 1124, signed into law and effective July 1, 2026, expanded the work group’s assignment to include an assessment of workforce impacts, including job losses and gains tied to autonomous vehicles. The law also requires the group to include stakeholders from auto manufacturing and labor representatives from passenger and product-carrier businesses. (vaco.org) VDOT says connected and automated vehicles could affect operations, traffic engineering, construction, maintenance and information technology, while creating economic-development opportunities and a growing workforce dedicated to the technology. For employers in automotive, logistics and mobility, that points to future compliance work around training records, safety procedures and operating policies once Virginia sets a framework. That last point is an inference based on the state’s stated focus on workforce impacts and operational rules. (legiscan.com) ### What happens next? September 1, 2026 is the deadline for the work group to complete its meetings, and November 1, 2026 is the deadline for its report to the General Assembly. Virginia law says that report must include an executive summary and any draft legislation recommended by the group, and it will be posted on the General Assembly’s website. (law.lis.virginia.gov) (vdot.virginia.gov)