Lawmakers Conduct Hearing on Ride-Hailing Bill

AUSTIN (AP) – Lawmakers Thursday began grilling Uber executives about safety concerns at a House committee hearing on a bill that would set statewide regulations for ride-hailing firms. Marshall Republican Rep. Chris Paddie said Thursday that his proposal seeks to charge companies a $115,000 annual registration fee to offset implementation costs. The committee planned to debate his measure but not immediately approve it on to the full House. Uber pulled out of San Antonio because of local ordinances, but backs the bill since it would supersede local rules by letting the company operate statewide. Paddie’s measure also mandates that ride-hailing firms conduct background checks, which they say they already do – although some lawmakers want fingerprinting required. Recently, a Houston Uber driver who’d passed a background check was arrested on for alleged sexual assault.