Vehicle Laws - Fully Autonomous Vehicles

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1295*

HOUSE BILL 1295
R5 6lr1962
HB 1256/25 – ENT CF SB 909
By: Delegates Ziegler, Allen, Arentz, Boyce, Feldmark , Fennell, Forbes, Hill,
Hornberger, S. Johnson, Kaufman, Metzgar, T. Morgan, Pruski, Shetty,
Smith, Spiegel, and Wu
Introduced and read first time: February 12, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Vehicle Laws – Fully Autonomous Vehicles 2

FOR the purpose of establishing certain standards and requirements for the operation of 3
fully autonomous vehicles on highways in the State; establishing that certain data 4
collected by fully autonomous vehicles is subject to the Online Data Privacy Act; and 5
generally relating to fully autonomous vehicles. 6

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 7
Article – Commercial Law 8
Section 14–4701(a) and (w) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2025 Replacement Volume) 11

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Commercial Law 13
Section 14–4702 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2025 Replacement Volume) 16

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 17
Article – Transportation 18
Section 15–901(a) 19
Annotated Code of Maryland 20
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 21

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 22
Article – Transportation 23
Section 15–901(f) 24
Annotated Code of Maryland 25
2 HOUSE BILL 1295

(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 1

BY adding to 2
Article – Transportation 3
Section 21–1501 through 21 –1510 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 15. Fully 4
Autonomous Vehicles” 5
Annotated Code of Maryland 6
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 7

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 8
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 9

Article – Commercial Law 10

14–4701. 11

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 12

(w) (1) “Personal data” means any information that is linked or can be 13
reasonably linked to an identified or identifiable consumer. 14

(2) “Personal data” does not include: 15

(i) De–identified data; or 16

(ii) Publicly available information. 17

14–4702. 18

This subtitle applies to a person that [conducts]: 19

(1) CONDUCTS business in the State or provides products or services that 20
are targeted to residents of the State, and that during the preceding calendar year did any 21
of the following: 22

[(1)] (I) Controlled or processed the personal data of at least 35,000 23
consumers, excluding personal data controlled or process ed solely for the purpose of 24
completing a payment transaction; or 25

[(2)] (II) Controlled or processed the personal data of at least 10,000 26
consumers and derived more than 20% of its gross revenue from the sale of personal data ; 27
OR 28

(2) COLLECTS PERSONAL DATA THROUG H THE USE OR OPERATI ON 29
OF A FULLY AUTONOMOU S VEHICLE , AS DEFINED UNDER § 21–1501 OF THE 30
TRANSPORTATION ARTICLE. 31
HOUSE BILL 1295 3

Article – Transportation 1

15–901. 2

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 3

(f) “Operational design domain” means operating conditions under which a given 4
automated driving system is specifically designed to function, including conditions subject 5
to: 6

(1) Environmental restrictions; 7

(2) Geographic restrictions; 8

(3) Time–of–day restrictions; or 9

(4) The [required] REQUISITE presence or absence of certain traffic or 10
roadway characteristics. 11

SUBTITLE 15. FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES. 12

21–1501. 13

(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 14
INDICATED. 15

(B) “AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM” MEANS THE HARDWARE A ND 16
SOFTWARE THAT ARE CO LLECTIVELY CAPABLE O F PERFORMING THE ENT IRE 17
DYNAMIC DRIVING TASK ON A SUSTAINED BASIS , REGARDLESS OF WHETHE R IT IS 18
LIMITED TO A SPECIFIC OPERATIONAL DESIGN DOMAIN. 19

(C) “DYNAMIC DRIVING TASK ” MEANS ALL OF THE REAL –TIME 20
OPERATIONAL FUNCTION S REQUIRED TO OPERAT E A MOTOR VEHICLE ON A 21
HIGHWAY, INCLUDING: 22

(1) LATERAL VEHICLE MOTION CONTROL THROUGH STEERING; 23

(2) LONGITUDINAL MOTION C ONTROL THROUGH ACCEL ERATION 24
AND DECELERATION; 25

(3) MONITORING THE DRIVIN G ENVIRONMENT THROUG H OBJECT 26
AND EVENT DETECTION , RECOGNITION, CLASSIFICATION, AND RESPONSE 27
PREPARATION; 28

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(4) OBJECT AND EVENT RESPONSE EXECUTION; 1

(5) MANEUVER PLANNING; AND 2

(6) SIGNALING WITH LIGHTS OR GESTURES. 3

(D) (1) “FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHI CLE” MEANS A MOTOR VEHICL E 4
EQUIPPED WITH AN AUT OMATED DRIVING SYSTE M DESIGNED TO FUNCTI ON 5
WITHOUT A HUMAN DRIVER. 6

(2) “FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHI CLE” INCLUDES A MOTOR VEH ICLE 7
EQUIPPED WITH A LEVE L 4 OR 5 SYSTEM AS DEFINED BY “TAXONOMY AND 8
DEFINITIONS FOR TERMS RELATED TO DRIVING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS FOR 9
ON–ROAD MOTOR VEHICLES” PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE 10
ENGINEERS INTERNATIONAL IN APRIL 2021. 11

(E) “HUMAN DRIVER” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL IN A VEHICLE WITH A VALID 12
LICENSE TO OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE WHO IS ABLE TO PERFORM THE DYNAMIC 13
DRIVING TASK. 14

(F) “MINIMAL RISK CONDITION” MEANS A STABLE, STOPPED CONDITION TO 15
WHICH A HUMAN DRIVER OR AN AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM MAY BRING A FULLY 16
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE A FTER PERFORMING THE DYNAMIC DRIVING TASK 17
FALLBACK TO REDUC E THE RISK OF A CRAS H WHEN A GIVEN TRIP CANNOT OR 18
SHOULD NOT BE CONTINUED. 19

(G) “OPERATIONAL DESIGN DO MAIN” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 20
15–901 OF THIS ARTICLE. 21

21–1502. 22

(A) A PERSON MAY OPERATE A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEH ICLE ON A 23
HIGHWAY IN THE STATE WITHOUT A HUMAN DRIV ER AND WITH THE AUTO MATED 24
DRIVING SYSTEM ENGAGED IF THE VEHICLE MEETS THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: 25

(1) IF A FAILURE OF THE A UTOMATED DRIVING SYS TEM OCCURS 26
THAT RENDERS THE SYSTEM UNABLE TO PERFORM THE ENTIRE DYNAMIC DRIVING 27
TASK RELEVAN T TO ITS INTENDED OP ERATIONAL DESIGN DOM AIN, THE FULLY 28
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE WILL ACHIEVE A MINIMAL RISK CONDITION; 29

(2) THE FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE IS CAPABLE OF OPERATING IN 30
ACCORDANCE WITH THE MARYLAND VEHICLE LAW, UNLESS THE ADMINISTRATION 31
HAS ADOPTED A REGULATION EXEMPTING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES FROM SPECIFIC 32
HOUSE BILL 1295 5

PROVISIONS OF LAW; AND 1

(3) THE FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE DISPLAYS THE REQUIRED 2
MANUFACTURER’S CERTIFICATION LABE L INDICATING THAT TH E VEHICLE IS IN 3
COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY 4
STANDARDS, INCLUDING REFERENCE TO ANY EXEMPTION GRA NTED BY THE 5
NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. 6

(B) (1) BEFORE OPERATING A FU LLY AUTONOMOUS VEHIC LE ON A 7
HIGHWAY IN THE STATE WITHOUT A HUMAN DRIVER AND WITH THE AUTOMATED 8
DRIVING SYSTEM ENGAGED, A PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATING THE VEHICLE 9
OR THE MANUFACTURER OF EITHER THE VEHICLE OR THE VEHICLE’S AUTOMATED 10
DRIVING SYSTEM SHALL SUBMIT A FIRST RESPO NDER INTERACTION PLAN TO THE 11
ADMINISTRATION. 12

(2) A FIRST RESPONDER INTE RACTION P LAN SHALL CONTAIN 13
INFORMATION ON: 14

(I) HOW TO COMMUNICATE WI TH A FLEET SUPPORT 15
SPECIALIST WHO IS AV AILABLE DURING THE T IMES THE FULLY AUTON OMOUS 16
VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION; 17

(II) HOW TO SAFELY REMOVE THE FULLY AUTONOMOUS 18
VEHICLE FROM THE HIGHWAY AND STEPS TO PROPERLY TOW THE VEHICLE; 19

(III) HOW TO RECOGNIZE WHET HER THE FULLY AUTONO MOUS 20
VEHICLE IS OPERATING AUTONOMOUSLY; AND 21

(IV) ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT THE MANUFACTURE R, 22
OWNER, OR ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERS NECESSARY, INCLUDING INFORMATION 23
REGARDING HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS OR PUBLIC SAFETY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH 24
THE OPERATION OF A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE. 25

(C) A PERSON SHALL SUBMIT EVIDENCE TO THE ADMINISTRATION, IN THE 26
MANNER REQUIRED BY T HE ADMINISTRATION, CERTIFYING THAT ALL SECURITY 27
REQUIRED UNDER § 21–1509 OF THIS SUBTITLE IS IN EFFECT BEFORE OPERATING 28
A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE WITHOUT A HUMAN DRIVER. 29

(D) WHEN A FULLY AUTONOMO US VEHICLE IS OPERAT ING WITH THE 30
AUTOMATED DRIVING SY STEM ENGAGED , THE AUTOMATED DRIVIN G SYSTEM IS 31
CONSIDERED TO: 32

(1) BE THE VEHICLE OPERAT OR FOR DETERMINING C OMPLIANCE 33
6 HOUSE BILL 1295

WITH THE MARYLAND VEHICLE LAW; 1

(2) SATISFY ELECTRONICALLY ALL PHYSICAL ACTS REQUIRED BY A 2
VEHICLE DRIVER; AND 3

(3) BE LICENSED TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. 4

(E) A HUMAN DRIVER MAY OPERATE A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE THAT 5
IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW HUMAN OPERATION IF THE AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM IS 6
NOT ENGAGED. 7

(F) (1) IN THE EVENT OF A VEH ICLE CRASH INVOLVING A FULLY 8
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE , THE FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE OR THE PERSO N 9
OPERATING THE FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE SHALL COMPLY WITH THE 10
REQUIREMENTS UNDER TITLE 20 OF THIS ARTICLE. 11

(2) ALL NOTICE AND REPORT ING REQUIREMENTS UND ER TITLE 20 12
OF THIS ARTICLE SHAL L BE SATISFIED WITHI N 15 DAYS AFTER A VEHICLE CRASH 13
INVOLVING A FULLY AU TONOMOUS VEHICLE, UNLESS AN EXTENSION IS G RANTED 14
UNDER TITLE 20 OF THIS ARTICLE. 15

21–1503. 16

(A) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION S (B) AND (C) OF THIS SECTION , A 17
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY, FOR–HIRE VEHICLE COMPANY , OR OTHER 18
GROUND PASSENGER TRA NSPORTATION COMPANY MAY USE FULLY AUTONO MOUS 19
VEHICLES. 20

(B) (1) ANY PROVISION OF THE MARYLAND VEHICLE LAW THAT BY ITS 21
NATURE APPLIES ONLY TO A HUMAN DRIVER DO ES NOT APPLY TO THE OPERATOR 22
OF A FULLY AUTONOMOU S VEHICLE WITH THE A UTOMATED DRIVING SYS TEM 23
ENGAGED WHILE BEING USED BY A TRANSPORTA TION NETWORK COMPANY , 24
FOR–HIRE VEHICLE COMPANY, OR OTHER GROUND PASS ENGER TRANSPORTATION 25
COMPANY. 26

(2) PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION MAY NOT BE INTERPRETED 27
TO EXEMPT THE PERSON WHO IS ENGAGING THE AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM FOR 28
USE BY A TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY, A FOR–HIRE VEHICLE COMPANY, 29
OR ANOTHER GROUND PA SSENGER TRANSPORTATI ON COMPANY FROM ANY 30
REQUIREMENT OF § 21–1502 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 31

(C) ALL FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES SHALL BE EQ UIPPED WITH AN 32
ACCESSIBLE USER INTE RFACE SUCH THAT INDI VIDUALS W ITH DISABILITIES ARE 33
HOUSE BILL 1295 7

ABLE TO INDEPENDENTL Y ACCESS ALL ASPECTS AND USER FEATURES OF THE 1
INTERFACE. 2

21–1504. 3

THE MOTOR VEHICLE TITLE AND REGISTRATION FOR A FULLY AUTONOMOUS 4
VEHICLE SHALL IDENTIFY THE VEHICLE AS A “FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE”. 5

21–1505. 6

A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEH ICLE THAT IS DESIGNE D TO BE OPERATED 7
EXCLUSIVELY BY THE AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM FOR ALL TRIPS IS NOT SUBJECT 8
TO STATE MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT LAWS THAT: 9

(1) RELATE TO OR SUPPORT MOTOR VEHICLE OPERAT ION BY A 10
HUMAN DRIVER SEATED IN THE VEHICLE; OR 11

(2) ARE NOT RELEVANT FOR AN AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM. 12

21–1506. 13

A STATE AGENCY OR LOCAL POLITICAL SUBDIVISION MAY NOT PROHIBIT THE 14
OPERATION OF FULLY A UTONOMOUS VEHICLES O N HIGHWAYS UNDER THE 15
JURISDICTION OF THE STATE AGENCY OR LOCAL POLITICAL SUBDIVISION O R 16
OTHERWISE ENACT OR K EEP IN EFFECT RULES OR ORDINANCES THAT W OULD 17
IMPOSE TAXES, FEES, OR OTHER REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC TO THE OP ERATION OF 18
FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES. 19

21–1507. 20

PERSONAL DATA , AS DEFINED IN § 14–4701 OF THE COMMERCIAL LAW 21
ARTICLE, THAT IS COLLECTED BY AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO TITLE 22
14, SUBTITLE 47 OF THE COMMERCIAL LAW ARTICLE. 23

21–1508. 24

(A) IF THE ADMINISTRATION HAS IN FORMATION, DATA, OR OTHER 25
EVIDENCE INDICATING THAT AN AUTONOMOUS V EHICLE IS NOT IN SAF E 26
MECHANICAL CONDITION AN D MAY ENDANGER PERSO NS ON THE HIGHWAY , THE 27
ADMINISTRATION MAY IS SUE A REQUEST FOR RE LEVANT INFORMATION T O THE 28
PERSON WHO SUBMITTED THE FIRST RESPONDER INTERACTION PLAN REQUIRED BY 29
§ 21–1502(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE OR THE PERSON’S SUCCESSOR. 30

8 HOUSE BILL 1295

(B) (1) THE PERSON WHO SUBMIT TED THE FIRST RESPON DER 1
INTERACTION PLAN SHALL RESPOND TO A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION SUBMITTED 2
UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SPECIFIED 3
BY THE ADMINISTRATION. 4

(2) THE RESPONSE REQUIRED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 5
SUBSECTION MAY BE IN THE FORM OF DOCUMENT S, A MEETING WITH THE 6
ADMINISTRATION, A DEMONSTRATION , OR ANY OTHER REASONA BLE FORM OF 7
COMMUNICATION. 8

(C) (1) AFTER CONSIDERING AND EVALUATING ALL RESPO NSES 9
PROVIDED UNDER SUBSE CTION (B) OF T HIS SECTION , IF THE ADMINISTRATION 10
DETERMINES THAT AN A UTONOMOUS VEHICLE IS NOT IN SAFE MECHANIC AL 11
CONDITION AND MAY ENDANGER PERSONS ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ADMINISTRATION 12
MAY SEND A NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUSPEND TH E REGISTRATION OR IM POSE 13
RESTRICTIONS ON THE OPERATION OF THE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE TO THE PERSON 14
WHO SUBMITTED THE FI RST RESPONDER INTERA CTION PLAN OR THE PE RSON’S 15
SUCCESSOR. 16

(2) THE NOTICE SHALL INCLUDE: 17

(I) A DESCRIPTION OF THE ADMINISTRATION’S REASONS FOR 18
SUSPENDING THE REGIS TRATION OR RESTRICTI NG OPERATION OF THE 19
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE AND EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE DETERMINATION; AND 20

(II) A STATEMENT REQUIRIN G THAT A CERTIFICATI ON OF 21
CORRECTION OR ADJUSTMENT BE SUBMITTED WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIME AND THAT 22
THE CERTIFICATION INCLUDE AN EXPLANATION OF HOW THE ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY 23
THE ADMINISTRATION IN THE NOTICE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED. 24

(D) (1) IF THE PERSON WHO SUB MITTED THE FIRST RES PONDER 25
INTERACTION PLAN FOR THE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE T HAT IS THE SUBJECT O F A 26
NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUSPEND THE REGISTRATION OR RESTRICT OPE RATION OR 27
THE PERSON’S SUCCESSOR FAILS TO SUBMIT THE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION 28
OR ADJUSTMENT WITHIN THE TIME SPECIFIED , OR THE ADMINISTRATION FINDS 29
THAT THE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION OR ADJUSTMENT IS INSUFFICIENT, THE 30
ADMINISTRATION SHALL NOTIFY THE PERSON THAT THE REGISTRATION FOR THAT 31
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE H AS BEEN SUSPENDED OR THE OPERATIONS OF TH E 32
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE HAVE BEEN RESTRICTED. 33

(2) IF THE PERSON LATER SUBMITS THE REQUIRED CERTIFICATION, 34
THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL REMOVE THE SUSPENSIO N OR RESTRICTION ON 35
RECEIPT OF THE CERTIFICATION. 36
HOUSE BILL 1295 9

(E) (1) A PERSON MAY REQUEST A HEARING TO DISPUTE T HE 1
ADMINISTRATION’S FINDING TO SUSPEND THE VEHICLE REGIS TRATION OR 2
RESTRICT OPERATION W ITHIN 10 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF ISSUANCE OF THE 3
NOTICE OF INTENT REQUIRED BY SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION. 4

(2) A HEARING REQUESTED UN DER THIS SUBSECTION SHALL BE 5
HELD WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE SUBMISSION OF A HEARING REQUEST. 6

(3) A DECISION TO UPHOLD T HE DETERMINATION OF THE 7
ADMINISTRATION IS SUBJECT TO APPEAL TO THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY 8
IN WHICH THE PERSON WHO REQUESTED THE HEARING RESIDES. 9

21–1509. 10

(A) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION S (B) AND (C) OF THIS SECTION , A F ULLY 11
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE SHALL MAINTAIN: 12

(1) PROOF OF FINANCIAL RE SPONSIBILITY IN THE SAME FORM AND 13
AT THE SAME MINIMUM LIMITS AS REQUIRED BY TITLE 17 OF THIS ARTICLE; 14

(2) PERSONAL INJURY PROTE CTION BENEFITS AS RE QUIRED BY § 15
19–505 OF THE INSURANCE ARTICLE; AND 16

(3) UNINSURED MOTORIST BE NEFITS AS REQUIRED B Y § 19–509 OF 17
THE INSURANCE ARTICLE. 18

(B) (1) A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE WITH ITS AUTOMATED DRIVING 19
SYSTEM ENGAGED SHALL MAINTAIN PROOF OF FI NANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN AN 20
AMOUNT NOT LESS THAN $1,000,000 COMBINED SINGLE LIMI T PER OCCURRENCE 21
FOR THIRD–PARTY LIABILITY. 22

(2) MAKERS OF INSURANCE P OLICIES AND SELF –INSURANCE 23
PROGRAMS MAY CONTRAC T AND COORDINATE WIT H EACH OTHER TO DETE RMINE 24
WHICH WILL SATISFY P ERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION AND UNINSURED MOTORIST 25
BENEFIT REQUIREMENTS. 26

(C) FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION 27
MAY BE SATISFIED BY HOLDING: 28

(1) AN INSURANCE POLICY ISSUED BY AN INSURER LICENSED IN THE 29
STATE; OR 30

10 HOUSE BILL 1295

(2) A SURPLUS LINES POLICY ISSUED BY AN ELIGIBL E 1
NONADMITTED INSURER A UTHORIZED UNDER TITLE 3, SUBTITLE 3 OF THE 2
INSURANCE ARTICLE. 3

(D) NO HIGHER LIMITS OF INSURANCE OR ADDITIONAL COVERAGES SHALL 4
BE REQUIRED SOLELY DUE TO AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE’S USE OF AN AUTOMATED 5
DRIVING SYSTEM. 6

21–1510. 7

THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL REVOKE A PERSON ’S LICENSE TO SELL 8
VEHICLES DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS UNDER § 15–305 OF THIS ARTICLE IF T HE 9
PERSON COMMITS A VIOLATION OF THIS SUBTITLE. 10

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 11
October 1, 2026. 12