DC Council tie vote blocks robotaxi bill, Waymo's future there unclear

A 3-3 committee vote killed a bill that would have let Waymo and other self-driving taxi companies operate commercially in Washington, D.C.

What happened: D.C.'s Council Transportation and Environment Committee deadlocked 3-3 on a revised bill that would have cleared the way for self-driving taxi companies like Waymo to get approval to operate commercially in the District. The tie means the bill does not advance. Councilmember Charles Allen had reworked it to address safety, workers' rights and traffic congestion, but other members, including incoming Mayor Janeese Lewis George, said the timing wasn't right. Cab drivers, union members and clergy had protested the bill a month earlier.

Why it matters: Waymo has been testing driverless cars in D.C. for roughly two years, part of a broader push to bring robotaxis to cities beyond the handful where it already runs paid rides. The stall keeps the capital out of that group for now and spotlights a fight playing out nationwide: AV companies argue computer drivers can cut road deaths, while labor groups and faith leaders worry about job losses and who is held responsible when a driverless car causes harm.

How it works, plainly: A committee markup is where lawmakers debate and amend a bill before it can move to the full council. A tie vote in committee effectively kills the measure unless it's reworked and reintroduced. Allen's revised version tried to answer earlier objections by adding explicit safety, labor and congestion provisions, but that wasn't enough to win a majority among the six committee members present.

The rollout: Waymo isn't walking away. In a statement after the vote, the company said more people have died on D.C. roads this year than when the city launched its Vision Zero safety initiative, and argued that delaying the bill postpones investment and jobs tied to expanding its operations. It's unclear whether the council, under new leadership, will bring the measure back or let the nearly 15-year debate over D.C. autonomous vehicle rules continue unresolved.