A bill that would create statewide regulation of ridesharing companies like Lyft and Uber on Wednesday passed the Insurance & Real Estate Committee intact, with no changes,a committee clerk said Thursday morning.
The measure passed by an 18-3 margin.
A public hearing on House Bill 7126 had been held March 2, and late Wednesday, both Lyft and Uber said they were happy to see the bill make it out of committee and into the state House of Representatives for consideration.
“Allowing all residents to access this safe, affordable, and convenient transportation option will inject money into local economies and give individuals the opportunity to earn extra income,” Lyft Spokesperson Scott Coriell said via email.
If signed into law, the bill would require ridesharing networks to register annually starting Jan. 1, 2018, display credentials, provide receipts for services offered digitally, and have drivers submit to national and state background checks.
The state would also regulate what it calls “dynamic” or on-demand pricing for services, requiring companies to give customers notice of unusually high prices. The state would also cap the highest pricing at no more than 2.5 times the usual price charged for such services at any other time, the bill states.
If the General Assembly passes the bill and the governor signs it, it would go into effect July 1.
