Ky. Legislators Override Autonomous Vehicles Veto

Autonomous vehicles could soon be on the road in Kentucky after state lawmakers reversed a veto from Gov. Andy Beshear. 

House Bill 7, which authorizes the operation of fully autonomous vehicles, as well as related guidelines and requirements, was rejected April 5 by Beshear before the state’s lawmakers overruled him April 12. 

The Kentucky House voted to overrule the veto 58-40, while the Senate passed it on a 21-15 vote. 

In a letter accompanying his veto attempt, Beshear stated that the bill “does not fully address questions about the safety and security of autonomous vehicles, nor does it implement a testing period that would require a licensed driver to be behind the wheel.” 

In the bill, it states that a human driver is required to be present in a fully autonomous vehicle weighing more than 62,000 pounds through July 31, 2026.