The Georgia House signed off on a bill that would require drivers for Uber and Lyft to submit to background checks.
The 160-10 vote Wednesday came days after lawmakers passed a separate proposal that would require drivers to maintain insurance coverage of up to $1 million. Both are now pending in the Senate.
The fingerprinting proposal - pitched as a "public safety" plan by state Rep. Alan Powell - is the latest attempt to add a layer of regulation to popular app-based ride-sharing companies. Few issues have generated as much debate - and feedback from voters - as House Bill 225 did.
Uber and Lyft initially pushed back against the proposal, too, but Powell said both firms ultimately wrote letters to support its passage.
"They understand that this will be an awfully good opportunity to move forward on this so they can do business and survive," said Powell, R-Hartwell.
The plan doesn't require the drivers to be fingerprinted, but instead allows the firms to conduct their own background checks that will be subject to a state audit. It also requires the companies to either pay state sales taxes or an annual fee for each car in its network.
After the vote, Uber sent over this statement:
This is big step forward for ridesharing in Georgia and we thank Chairmen Powell and Maxwell for their leadership. This legislation protects public safety while supporting innovation. We look forward to continuing to provide Georgians with opportunity and choice as we work with the Senate to finalize this bill.
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