Recent State-Level Automated Vehicle Developments (2025 – 2026)

Several states have recently moved forward with affirmative automated vehicle (AV) legislation and rulemaking:

• California: On April 28, 2026, the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) adopted comprehensive new AV regulations covering both light-duty and heavy-duty autonomous vehicles. The rules authorize heavy-duty AV testing and deployment, allow certain medium-duty AV transit vehicles, require phased testing mileage and safety cases, expand data reporting, permit law enforcement to issue Notices of AV Noncompliance, require 30-second first-responder communication, authorize emergency geofencing directives, regulate remote operations personnel, and allow the DMV to impose targeted operational restrictions for public safety.
   
• District of Columbia: The District of Columbia took the notable step of repealing its general provision permitting the use of autonomous vehicles, while retaining the provision for AV testing. Emergency legislation in 2025 (D.C. Act 26-35) temporarily imposed AV testing permit requirements, though that interim amendment has since expired. In July 2026, the D.C. Council held a public hearing on its proposed Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Authorization Amendment Act of 2026, which would establish a Commercial Autonomous Vehicles Program within the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), allowing certain autonomous vehicles to transport passengers and goods in the District. It would require applicants and recipients of a commercial AV permit to submit planning documents, reports, and data to DDOT.
   
• Texas: Texas passed SB 2807 in 2025, creating a commercial AV authorization program administered by the Texas Department of Motor Veicles, with authorization requirements becoming enforceable as of May 28, 2026.
   
• Montana: MT S 67 was passed in 2025. The legislation addresses vehicles with automated driving systems on state public highways. Under the legislation, vehicles with Level 1 – 3 automated driving systems may operate on public highways. Additionally, the law allows the Department of Transportation to adopt rules that limit the use of commercial vehicles with automated driving systems in actual or predicted periods of dangerous road conditions.
   
• Tennessee: An amendment effective April 13, 2026 (Tenn. Acts ch. 726) establishes a process for handling traffic violations committed by autonomous vehicles.
   
• Louisiana: In 2025, Louisiana adopted legislation to regulate autonomous commercial motor vehicles.

Pending Legislation and Proposals Still Under Consideration

Several states have active AV proposals that remain pending. Those proposals range the gamut, but can generally be grouped as follows:

• Comprehensive regulatory frameworks: New York has multiple pending proposals. A3650/S344 provides that a person may operate a fully autonomous vehicle on the public roads of New York state without a human driver, provided that the automated driving system is engaged, the vehicle meets certain conditions, and it is registered as an autonomous vehicle. S10473/A11500 would authorize fully autonomous vehicles in Albany and Rensselaer counties on a limited basis. Virginia's VA S 670, continued to 2027, would establish operational requirements and require autonomous operation licenses. Missouri's HB 2069 would establish rules allowing autonomous vehicles to operate on Missouri roads, provided that the automated driving system is engaged and the vehicle meets certain conditions, and require companies to meet federal safety standards and comply with state traffic laws.
   
• Pilot programs with safety and cybersecurity provisions: New Jersey's S1677/A3968 would establish a three-year fully autonomous vehicle pilot program with operator-in-seat requirements, cybersecurity and data-encryption provisions, and advisory review of cyberattacks, collisions, and AV liability. Pennsylvania has pending legislation that aims to allow Level 3 autonomous vehicles, also known as "conditional driving automation," on state roads.