THE BILL ITSELF
HB 1469
Autonomous Vehicle Safety
1
A bill to be entitled
2
An act relating to autonomous vehicle safety; amending
3
s. 319.145, F.S.; requiring an autonomous vehicle
4
registered in this state to comply with certain
5
standards, regulations, and laws; prohibiting an
6
autonomous vehicle from engaging in certain activities
7
unless a licensed human operator is physically present
8
in the vehicle; requiring such operator to comply with
9
certain standards, regulations, and laws; providing an
10
effective date.
12
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14
Section 1. Section 319.145, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
16
319.145 Autonomous vehicles.—
17
(1) An autonomous vehicle registered in this state must
18
meet all of the following requirements:
19
(a) When required by federal law:
20
1. Have been certified in accordance with federal
21
regulations in 49 C.F.R. part 567 as being in compliance with
22
applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards.
23
2. Bear the required certification label or labels
24
including reference to any exemption granted under applicable
25
federal law.
26
(b) Be capable of being operated in compliance with the
27
applicable traffic and motor vehicle laws of this state,
28
regardless of whether the vehicle is operating with the
29
automated driving system engaged.
30
(c) Comply with all federal motor vehicle standards,
31
regulations, and laws.
32
(2)(a) As used in this subsection, the term "minimal risk
33
condition" means a reasonably safe state, such as bringing the
34
vehicle to a complete stop and activating the vehicle's hazard
35
lamps.
36
(b) If the autonomous vehicle is not fully autonomous, the
37
vehicle must have a system to safely alert a licensed human
38
operator physically present in the vehicle if an automated
39
driving system failure is detected while the automated driving
40
system is engaged. When an alert is given, the system must
41
require the licensed human operator to take control of the
42
autonomous vehicle or must achieve a minimal risk condition. The
43
term "minimal risk condition" means a reasonably safe state,
44
such as bringing the vehicle to a complete stop and activating
45
the vehicle's hazard lamps.
46
(c)(3) If the autonomous vehicle is fully autonomous, it
47
must be able to achieve a minimal risk condition if a failure of
48
the automated driving system occurs which renders that system
49
unable to perform the entire dynamic driving task relevant to
50
its intended operational design domain.
51
(3)(a) An autonomous vehicle may not engage in interstate
52
commerce or transport passengers or goods for hire unless a
53
licensed human operator is physically present in the vehicle to
54
monitor the vehicle's performance and take control of the
55
vehicle if necessary.
56
(b) The licensed human operator must comply with all
57
federal and state standards, regulations, and laws relating to
58
autonomous vehicles and motor vehicles.
59
(4) Federal regulations adopted promulgated by the
60
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall supersede
61
this section when found to be in conflict with this section.
62
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.