Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana HB97: Allow for platooning vehicles
Status: Vetoed, June 19, 2025
What the bill says
An act allowing the platooning of vehicles; defining platooning; providing for special permits; requiring a study of platooning safety by the department of transportation; providing rulemaking authority; and amending section 61-10-124, mca.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT ALLOWING THE PLATOONING OF VEHICLES; DEFINING PLATOONING; PROVIDING FOR SPECIAL PERMITS; REQUIRING A STUDY OF PLATOONING SAFETY BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION; PROVIDING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; AND AMENDING SECTION 61-10-124, MCA. Section 1. Platooning -- study -- rulemaking. (1) The department of transportation shall complete a feasibility study to determine whether platooning can be safely conducted in Montana. The study must include consideration of Montana's various terrain, weather extremes, effectiveness of supporting communication networks, and any other considerations applicable to the safety of the motoring public. (2) If, upon completion and analysis of the study required in subsection (1), the department determines that platooning can be safely conducted, it shall adopt rules and standards for platooning. Prior to proposing rules on platooning, the department shall engage stakeholders such as members of the transportation interim committee, representatives of law enforcement agencies, the trucking industry, platooning technology developers, ranchers, drivers, pedestrians, tribal governments, and local governments. (3) Platooning may be allowed following the implementation of department rules and standards. (4) For the purposes of this section, "platooning" means operating partially or fully autonomous motor vehicles that are trailers, trucks, or truck tractors, as defined in 61-1-101, to travel on a highway at electronically coordinated speeds in a unified manner at a following distance that is closer than would be reasonable and …
Sponsors
- Wirth, Zack (R, 17) · primary sponsor
- Fern, Dave (D, 2)
Latest actions
- : (H) Vetoed by Governor
- : (H) Transmitted to Governor
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (H) Returned from Enrolling
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (H) Signed by Governor
- : (H) Transmitted to Governor
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
Votes
- Do Concur (March 17, 2025): 29 yea, 20 nay, passed
- Do Concur (March 15, 2025): 34 yea, 16 nay, passed
- Do Pass (February 6, 2025): 98 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Do Pass As Amended (February 4, 2025): 95 yea, 5 nay, passed
- AMD-HB0097.002.002 Baum DO PASS (February 4, 2025): 84 yea, 16 nay, passed
Subjects: Rule Making, Motor Vehicles
Common questions
- What is HB97?
- HB97 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Allow for platooning vehicles.
- What does HB97 do?
- In its own words: An act allowing the platooning of vehicles; defining platooning; providing for special permits; requiring a study of platooning safety by the department of transportation; providing rulemaking authority; and amending section 61-10-124, mca.
- What is the status of HB97?
- Vetoed as of June 19, 2025. Latest action: (H) Vetoed by Governor (June 19, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB97?
- Wirth, Zack (R, 17), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB97?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0172
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.