Back to Florida

HB1469 • 2026

Autonomous Vehicle Safety

Autonomous Vehicle Safety

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Nixon
Last action
2026-03-13
Official status
House - Died in Government Operations Subcommittee
Effective date
2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms or penalties for non-compliance.

Rules for Safe Autonomous Vehicles

This bill sets safety standards and requirements for autonomous vehicles registered in Florida.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires autonomous vehicles to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards when required by federal law.
  • Prohibits autonomous vehicles from operating without a licensed human operator present if they are not fully autonomous.
  • Requiring the human operator to take control of the vehicle or ensure it stops safely and activates hazard lights when needed.
  • Limits fully autonomous vehicles to only operate in ways that can be stopped safely if something goes wrong.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who own or use autonomous vehicles registered in Florida
  • Companies that make or sell autonomous vehicles

Terms To Know

minimal risk condition
A reasonably safe state, such as bringing the vehicle to a complete stop and activating its hazard lamps.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if a fully autonomous vehicle fails to meet safety requirements.
  • It's unclear how this law will be enforced or who will enforce it.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-13 House

    • Died in Government Operations Subcommittee

  2. 2026-01-15 House

    • Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee • Referred to State Affairs Committee • Now in Government Operations Subcommittee

  3. 2026-01-13 House

    • 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)

  4. 2026-01-09 House

    • Filed

Official Summary Text

Autonomous Vehicle Safety; Requires autonomous vehicle registered in this state to comply with certain standards, regulations, & laws; prohibits autonomous vehicle from engaging in certain activities unless licensed human operator is physically present in vehicle; requires such operator to comply with certain standards, regulations, & laws.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HB 1469 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1469-00
Page 1 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to autonomous vehicle safety; amending 2
s. 319.145, F.S.; requiring an autonomous vehicle 3
registered in this state to comply with certain 4
standards, regulations, and laws; prohibiting an 5
autonomous vehicle from engaging in certain activities 6
unless a licensed human operator is physically present 7
in the vehicle; requiring such operator to comply with 8
certain standards, regulations, and laws; providing an 9
effective date. 10
11
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 12
13
Section 1. Section 319.145, Florida Statutes, is amended 14
to read: 15
319.145 Autonomous vehicles.— 16
(1) An autonomous vehicle registered in this state must 17
meet all of the following requirements: 18
(a) When required by federal law: 19
1. Have been certified in accordance with federal 20
regulations in 49 C.F.R. part 567 as being in compliance with 21
applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards. 22
2. Bear the required certification label or labels 23
including reference to any exemption granted under applicable 24
federal law. 25

HB 1469 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1469-00
Page 2 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

(b) Be capable of being operated in compliance with the 26
applicable traffic and motor vehicle laws of this state, 27
regardless of whether the vehicle is operating with the 28
automated driving system engaged. 29
(c) Comply with all federal motor vehicle standards, 30
regulations, and laws. 31
(2)(a) As used in this subsection, the term "minimal risk 32
condition" means a reasonably safe state, such as bringing the 33
vehicle to a complete stop and activating the vehicle's hazard 34
lamps. 35
(b) If the autonomous vehicle is not fully autonomous, the 36
vehicle must have a system to safely alert a licensed human 37
operator physically present in the vehicle if an automated 38
driving system failure is detected while the automated driving 39
system is engaged. When an alert is given, the system must 40
require the licensed human operator to take control of the 41
autonomous vehicle or must achieve a minimal risk condition. The 42
term "minimal risk condition" means a reasonably safe state, 43
such as bringing the vehicle to a complete stop and activating 44
the vehicle's hazard lamps. 45
(c)(3) If the autonomous vehicle is fully autonomous, it 46
must be able to achieve a minimal risk condition if a failure of 47
the automated driving system occurs which renders that system 48
unable to perform the entire dynamic driving task relevant to 49
its intended operational design domain. 50

HB 1469 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1469-00
Page 3 of 3
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

(3)(a) An autonomous vehicle may not engage in interstate 51
commerce or transport passengers or goods for hire unless a 52
licensed human operator is physically present in the vehicle to 53
monitor the vehicle's performance and take control of the 54
vehicle if necessary. 55
(b) The licensed human operator must comply with all 56
federal and state standards, regulations, and laws relating to 57
autonomous vehicles and motor vehicles. 58
(4) Federal regulations adopted promulgated by the 59
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shall supersede 60
this section when found to be in conflict with this section. 61
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 62