A version of the following public comment was submitted to the members of the Texas State Senate Committee on Transportation on August 21, 2026.

We support the interim charge’s directive to “[s]tudy the deployment of autonomous vehicle technology as authorized by SB 2807, (89^th Session), including rule-making” proceedings that implemented Senate Bill 2807 at the responsible agencies.

SB 2807 authorized the current autonomous vehicle regulatory framework in Texas. It was enacted in June 2025 and became effective on September 1, 2025. The statutory program is codified in Texas Transportation Code, Subchapter J, Chapter 545. 

Pursuant to the law, regulations were promulgated by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) and Department of Public Safety (DPS) to implement the regulatory framework. TxDMV has authority to issue (and revoke) commercial automated vehicle authorizations, while DPS is tasked with collecting First Responder Interaction Plans from authorized automated vehicle companies and road enforcement/adherence to traffic laws.

The final rules issued by TxDMV related to authorization of automated vehicle companies became enforceable on May 28, 2026. As such, Texas’s automated vehicle regulatory program has been fully operational for just three months.

We believe insufficient time has elapsed to evaluate the effectiveness of the program and recommend that the committee direct its attention to ensuring data collection under the current regulatory framework is robust to facilitate future program evaluations. 

We view as particularly valuable the information from TxDMV Enforcement Division’s review of complaints filed that allege automated vehicle operations resulted, or are likely to result in, serious bodily injury or death. These data will be crucial in future evaluations of the effectiveness of the current regulatory framework in prioritizing public safety.