ST. PAUL — As autonomous vehicle companies set their sights on Minnesota, legislators are struggling to reach a consensus on how self-driving cars should be operated and regulated.
The latest attempt to set up parameters for autonomous vehicles came in the form of a bill authored by Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura, DFL-Minneapolis.
The bill would establish an advisory board to study the impacts of autonomous vehicles, create a state permitting process to certify autonomous vehicle companies and require a human operator to remain in the vehicle while policy is still developing.
Autonomous vehicles have been in the works for decades, but they began to gain popularity after the commercial robotaxi company Waymo spun off from Google in 2016. In 2020, Waymo became the first company to offer service to the public without drivers in the vehicle.
In December 2025, Waymo reached 170.7 million miles traveled without a human operator. The company reported the Waymo cars experienced 92% fewer crashes resulting in a serious injury or worse than human drivers, in addition to 92% fewer pedestrian crashes with injuries.
Despite the data, many say autonomous vehicles need to be studied further before being allowed on the streets of Minnesota.
Rep. Sencer-Mura called attention to multiple instances when Waymo vehicles behaved strangely while driving, including an incident in Arizona when a Waymo was seen stopped in oncoming traffic and another in San Francisco when multiple Waymo robotaxis stopped working during a power outage.
“I have heard from constituents across our state with excitement about what a future with autonomous vehicles can be in terms of safety, tourism and innovation,” Sencer-Mura said. “And at the same time, I’ve heard deep fear and concern about what this can mean for the safety of passengers.”
Sumer Spika, a disability advocate who lives with epilepsy, asked legislators to consider rideshare employment and safety over technology companies’ interests when making decisions about autonomous vehicles.
“People with disabilities want what all Minnesotans want: the ability to live our lives with as much health and safety as possible,” Spika said. “I urge you to not use my community as a shield to benefit a big tech company who doesn’t care less about Minnesotans.”
Abdirashid Mohamed has been a rideshare driver since 2018. He testified in favor of the bill, noting that he’s helped passengers with wheelchairs get into his car and has placed their chairs in his trunk.
“Drivers like me do what automated cars could never do,” Mohamed said.
Some legislators, however, said the proposed legislation is overly restrictive.
Rep. Bjorn Olson, R–Fairmont, said the bill’s conditions would prevent autonomous vehicles from ever coming to Minnesota, explaining the task force, study and further regulations would deter companies from wanting to set up in Minnesota.
This measure follows a bill by Rep. Jon Koznick, R–Lakeville, which would establish a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles, including outlining requirements for first responder encounters, insurance and vehicle operation. The bill failed to make it out of committee on March 4.
Sencer-Mura’s bill failed on a 7-7 vote in the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee on March 23.
Lawmakers are likely to continue debating the issue though. Last November, Waymo announced it would be testing vehicles in Minnesota, although the company has not said when it intends to begin operating here.
Report for Minnesota is a project of the University of Minnesota’s Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication to support local news across the state.
