Lifestyle

Senator Wants to Deregulate and Bring Back Ride-Sharing to Austin

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This week, 450 new bills were filed for Texas Legislature’s 85th session, and two similar bills concern ride-sharing options in Austin. KVUE reports that State Senator Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown) proposed bill 176, which would turn regulating ride-sharing companies over to the state of Texas instead of Austin residents.

“It is light in regulation, but I think regulation is appropriate in context, nature and extent,” Schwertner says. But in May of this year, Austinites voted down Proposition 1. This meant that the majority of voters wanted the apps Uber and Lyft to fingerprint their drivers according to city standards. Since the two companies didn’t want to follow through with fingerprinting, they decided to leave the city, though they are welcome to return at any time as long as they follow the guidelines.

Many people miss Uber and Lyft for the ease of their ride-sharing service and the jobs they provided. Though with bill 176, Austin would give its power to decide for themselves over to the state. “The City of Austin’s legislative agenda provides clear direction that the City will protect Austin residents’ right to govern themselves and work with their City government to adopt and enforce ordinances that regulate transportation network companies,” Marissa Monroy, public information and marketing manager for the city’s transportation department, told KVUE.