Mass. Senate Passes Ridesharing Bill; Lawmakers Must Reconcile with House Bill

The Massachusetts Senate has passed a bill to regulate ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft.

The legislation approved Wednesday on a 34-2 vote would require drivers to undergo criminal background checks and carry insurance policies of at least $1 million.

Unlike a House bill, the Senate version would not ban drivers from picking up passengers at Boston’s Logan International Airport, a provision intended to appease a struggling taxi industry.

The Senate bill would also create a trust fund paid for by an assessment on transportation network companies of not more than 10 cents per ride. The money would be distributed to municipalities based on the proportion of rides originating in a city or town.

The two bills now must be reconciled and a single compromise version approved by both chambers.