Washington, D.C. robotaxi bill heads to committee vote with a 200-vehicle starting cap and a per-mile fee

Washington, D.C. is moving toward a decision on whether to allow driverless ride-hail services such as Waymo. The Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Authorization Amendment Act of 2026 (B26-0684), written by Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, is scheduled for a committee markup vote on Monday, November 9, according to the Capital Commonsense newsletter. Allen chairs the Council's Committee on Transportation and the Environment, which received the bill in May and held a public hearing on July 13.

What the bill would allow

The measure would end the requirement for a human safety driver for companies that meet the District's permitting rules, but under strict conditions. As introduced on May 1, it limits each operator's commercial fleet to 200 vehicles until January 2028, according to a summary by the industry group Chamber of Progress. Capital Commonsense reports that fleets could then grow gradually with the approval of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT).

Operators would pay fees at several stages: permit applications, putting vehicles into service, renewals and a per-mile charge. The version analysed by Chamber of Progress sets that charge at $0.15 for every autonomous mile, including miles driven without passengers. The money would go to an AV deployment fund, split evenly between public transit and a workforce programme for taxi and ride-hail drivers who lose income. The text also includes equity rules covering all eight wards, accessibility requirements and protocols for first responders. Chamber of Progress, which supports AV deployment, argues the cap is too small for citywide service. Allen has described the bill as one of the most progressive of its kind in the country, City Cast DC reported.

Opposition and timing

Labour groups, faith leaders and drivers rallied against the bill outside the Wilson Building in early October. In mid-October, Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, who has since become mayor-elect, called for the legislation to wait until at least next year, citing job losses. She described the push as "irresponsible", City Cast DC reported, while The Washington Sun quoted her saying the city should not rush it this year. Allen said he would keep moving forward.

City Cast DC noted that to reach the current mayor's desk before she leaves office, the bill needed a markup by mid-November, followed by two votes of the full Council. Waymo says it would create hundreds of local jobs and plans three maintenance depots in the city. The outcome of the November 9 vote, and any amendments to the cap or fees, are not yet known.