Vehicle Laws - Fully Autonomous Vehicles

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0909*

SENATE BILL 909
R5 6lr1961
CF HB 1295
By: Senators Love, Brooks, Ferguson, Gile, King, Waldstreicher, and Zucker
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings

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 t he 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
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 26

2 SENATE BILL 909

BY adding to 1
Article – Transportation 2
Section 21–1501 through 21 –1510 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 15. Fully 3
Autonomous Vehicles” 4
Annotated Code of Maryland 5
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 6

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 7
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 8

Article – Commercial Law 9

14–4701. 10

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 11

(w) (1) “Personal data ” means any information that is linked or can be 12
reasonably linked to an identified or identifiable consumer. 13

(2) “Personal data” does not include: 14

(i) De–identified data; or 15

(ii) Publicly available information. 16

14–4702. 17

This subtitle applies to a person that [conducts]: 18

(1) CONDUCTS business in the State or provides products or services that 19
are targeted to residents of the State, and that during the preceding calendar year did any 20
of the following: 21

[(1)] (I) Controlled or processed the personal data of at least 35,000 22
consumers, excluding personal data controlled or processed solely for the purpose of 23
completing a payment transaction; or 24

[(2)] (II) Controlled or processed the personal data of at least 10,000 25
consumers and derived more than 20% of its gross revenue from the sale of personal data ; 26
OR 27

(2) COLLECTS PERSONAL DATA THROUG H THE USE OR OPERATI ON 28
OF A FULLY AUTONOMOU S VEHICLE , AS DEFINED UNDER § 21–1501 OF THE 29
TRANSPORTATION ARTICLE. 30

Article – Transportation 31
SENATE BILL 909 3

15–901. 1

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 2

(f) “Operational design domain” means operating conditions under which a given 3
automated driving system is specifically designed to function, including conditions subject 4
to: 5

(1) Environmental restrictions; 6

(2) Geographic restrictions; 7

(3) Time–of–day restrictions; or 8

(4) The [required] REQUISITE presence or absence of certain traffic or 9
roadway characteristics. 10

SUBTITLE 15. FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES. 11

21–1501. 12

(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FO LLOWING WORDS HAVE T HE MEANINGS 13
INDICATED. 14

(B) “AUTOMATED DRIVING SYS TEM” MEANS THE HARDWARE A ND 15
SOFTWARE THAT ARE CO LLECTIVELY CAPABLE O F PERFORMING THE ENT IRE 16
DYNAMIC DRIVING TASK ON A SUSTAINED BASIS , REGARDLESS OF WHETHE R IT IS 17
LIMITED TO A SPECIFIC OPERATIONAL DESIGN DOMAIN. 18

(C) “DYNAMIC DRIVING TASK ” MEANS ALL OF THE REA L–TIME 19
OPERATIONAL FUNCTION S REQUIRED TO OPERAT E A MOTOR VEHICLE ON A 20
HIGHWAY, INCLUDING: 21

(1) LATERAL VEHICLE MOTION CONTROL THROUGH STEERING; 22

(2) LONGITUDINAL MOTION CONTROL THROUGH ACCELERATION 23
AND DECELERATION; 24

(3) MONITORING THE DRIVIN G ENVIRONMENT THROUG H OBJECT 25
AND EVENT DETECTION , RECOGNITION, CLASSIFICATION, AND RESPONSE 26
PREPARATION; 27

(4) OBJECT AND EVENT RESPONSE EXECUTION; 28

4 SENATE BILL 909

(5) MANEUVER PLANNING; AND 1

(6) SIGNALING WITH LIGHTS OR GESTURES. 2

(D) (1) “FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHI CLE” MEANS A MOTOR VEHICL E 3
EQUIPPED WITH AN AUT OMATED DRIVING SYSTE M DESIGNED TO FUNCTI ON 4
WITHOUT A HUMAN DRIVER. 5

(2) “FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHI CLE” INCLUDES A MOTOR VEHICLE 6
EQUIPPED WITH A LEVEL 4 OR 5 SYSTEM AS DEFINED BY “TAXONOMY AND 7
DEFINITIONS FOR TERMS RELATED TO DRIVING AUTOMATION SYSTEMS FOR 8
ON–ROAD MOTOR VEHICLES” PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE 9
ENGINEERS INTERNATIONAL IN APRIL 2021. 10

(E) “HUMAN DRIVER” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL IN A VEHICLE WITH A VALID 11
LICENSE TO OPERATE A MOTOR VEHICLE WHO IS ABLE TO PERFORM THE DYNAMIC 12
DRIVING TASK. 13

(F) “MINIMAL RISK CONDITION” MEANS A STABLE, STOPPED CONDITION TO 14
WHICH A HUMAN DRIVER OR AN AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM MAY BRING A FULLY 15
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE AFTER PERFORMING THE DYNAMIC DRIVING TASK 16
FALLBACK TO REDUCE T HE RISK OF A CRASH W HEN A GIVEN TRIP CAN NOT OR 17
SHOULD NOT BE CONTINUED. 18

(G) “OPERATIONAL DESIGN DO MAIN” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 19
15–901 OF THIS ARTICLE. 20

21–1502. 21

(A) A PERSON MAY OPERATE A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEH ICLE ON A 22
HIGHWAY IN THE STATE WITHOUT A HUMAN DRIVER AND WITH THE AUTOMATED 23
DRIVING SYSTEM ENGAGED IF THE VEHICLE MEETS THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: 24

(1) IF A FAILURE OF THE A UTOMATED DRIV ING SYSTEM OCCURS 25
THAT RENDERS THE SYSTEM UNABLE TO PERFORM THE ENTIRE DYNAMIC DRIVING 26
TASK RELEVANT TO ITS INTENDED OPERATIONAL DESIGN DOMAIN , THE FULLY 27
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE WILL ACHIEVE A MINIMAL RISK CONDITION; 28

(2) THE FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE IS CAPABLE OF OPERATING IN 29
ACCORDANCE WITH THE MARYLAND VEHICLE LAW, UNLESS THE ADMINISTRATION 30
HAS ADOPTED A REGULATION EXEMPTING AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES FROM SPECIFIC 31
PROVISIONS OF LAW; AND 32

SENATE BILL 909 5

(3) THE FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE DISPLAYS THE REQUIRED 1
MANUFACTURER’S CERT IFICATION LABEL INDI CATING THAT THE VEHI CLE IS IN 2
COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY 3
STANDARDS, INCLUDING REFERENCE TO ANY EXEMPTION GRA NTED BY THE 4
NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. 5

(B) (1) BEFORE OPERATING A FU LLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE O N A 6
HIGHWAY IN THE STATE WITHOUT A HUMAN DRIVER AND WITH THE AUTOMATED 7
DRIVING SYSTEM ENGAGED, A PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATING THE VEHICLE 8
OR THE MANUFACTURER OF EITHER THE VEHICLE OR THE VEHICLE’S AUTOMATED 9
DRIVING SYSTEM SHALL SUBMIT A FIRST RESPONDER INTERACTION PLAN TO THE 10
ADMINISTRATION. 11

(2) A FIRST RESPONDER INTERACTION PLAN SHA LL CONTAIN 12
INFORMATION ON: 13

(I) HOW TO COMMUNICATE WI TH A FLEET SUPPORT 14
SPECIALIST WHO IS AV AILABLE DURING THE T IMES THE FULLY AUTON OMOUS 15
VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION; 16

(II) HOW TO SAFELY REMOVE THE FULLY AUTONOMOUS 17
VEHICLE FROM THE HIGHWAY AND STEPS TO PROPERLY TOW THE VEHICLE; 18

(III) HOW TO RECOGNIZE WHET HER THE FULLY AUTONO MOUS 19
VEHICLE IS OPERATING AUTONOMOUSLY; AND 20

(IV) ANY OTHER I NFORMATION THAT THE MANUFACTURER, 21
OWNER, OR ADMINISTRATION CONSIDERS NECESSARY, INCLUDING INFORMATION 22
REGARDING HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS OR PUBLIC SAFETY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH 23
THE OPERATION OF A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE. 24

(C) A PERSON SHALL SUBMIT EVIDENCE TO THE ADMINISTRATION, IN THE 25
MANNER REQUIRED BY T HE ADMINISTRATION, CERTIFYING THAT ALL SECURITY 26
REQUIRED UNDER § 21–1509 OF THIS SUBTITLE IS IN EFFECT BEFORE OPERATING 27
A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE WITHOUT A HUMAN DRIVER. 28

(D) WHEN A FULLY AUTONOMO US VEHICL E IS OPERATING WITH THE 29
AUTOMATED DRIVING SY STEM ENGAGED , THE AUTOMATED DRIVIN G SYSTEM IS 30
CONSIDERED TO: 31

(1) BE THE VEHICLE OPERAT OR FOR DETERMINING C OMPLIANCE 32
WITH THE MARYLAND VEHICLE LAW; 33

6 SENATE BILL 909

(2) SATISFY ELECTRONICALLY ALL PHYSICAL ACTS REQUIRED BY A 1
VEHICLE DRIVER; AND 2

(3) BE LICENSED TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. 3

(E) A HUMAN DRIVER MAY OPERATE A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE THAT 4
IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW HUMAN OPERATION IF THE AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM IS 5
NOT ENGAGED. 6

(F) (1) IN THE EVENT OF A VEH ICLE CRASH INVOLVING A FULLY 7
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE , THE FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE OR THE PERSON 8
OPERATING THE FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEH ICLE SHALL COMPLY WI TH THE 9
REQUIREMENTS UNDER TITLE 20 OF THIS ARTICLE. 10

(2) ALL NOTICE AND REPORT ING REQUIREMENTS UNDER TITLE 20 11
OF THIS ARTICLE SHAL L BE SATISFIED WITHI N 15 DAYS AFTER A VEHICLE CRASH 12
INVOLVING A FULLY AU TONOMOUS VEHICLE, UNLESS AN EXTENSION IS GRANTED 13
UNDER TITLE 20 OF THIS ARTICLE. 14

21–1503. 15

(A) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION S (B) AND (C) OF THIS S ECTION, A 16
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY, FOR–HIRE VEHICLE COMPANY , OR OTHER 17
GROUND PASSENGER TRA NSPORTATION COMPANY MAY USE FULLY AUTONO MOUS 18
VEHICLES. 19

(B) (1) ANY PROVISION OF THE MARYLAND VEHICLE LAW THAT BY ITS 20
NATURE APPLIES ONLY TO A HUMAN DRIVER D OES NOT APPLY TO THE OPERATOR 21
OF A FULLY AUTONOMOU S VEHICLE WITH THE A UTOMATED DRIVING SYS TEM 22
ENGAGED WHILE BEING USED BY A TRAN SPORTATION NETWORK C OMPANY, 23
FOR–HIRE VEHICLE COMPANY, OR OTHER GROUND PASS ENGER TRANSPORTATION 24
COMPANY. 25

(2) PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION MAY NOT BE INTERPRETED 26
TO EXEMPT THE PERSON WHO IS ENGAGING THE AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM FOR 27
USE BY A TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANY, A FOR–HIRE VEHICLE COMPANY, 28
OR ANOTHER GROUND PA SSENGER TRANSPORTATI ON COMPANY FROM ANY 29
REQUIREMENT OF § 21–1502 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 30

(C) ALL FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES SHALL BE EQ UIPPED WITH AN 31
ACCESSIBLE USER INTE RFACE SUCH THAT INDI VIDUALS WITH DISABIL ITIES ARE 32
ABLE TO INDEPENDENTL Y ACCESS ALL ASPECTS AND USER FEATURES OF THE 33
INTERFACE. 34
SENATE BILL 909 7

21–1504. 1

THE MOTOR VEHICLE TITLE AND REGISTRATION FOR A FULLY AUTONOMOUS 2
VEHICLE SHALL IDENTIFY THE VEHICLE AS A “FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE”. 3

21–1505. 4

A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEH ICLE THAT IS DESIGNE D TO BE OPERATED 5
EXCLUSIVELY BY THE AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM FOR ALL TRIPS IS NOT SUBJECT 6
TO STATE MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT LAWS THAT: 7

(1) RELATE TO OR SUPPORT MOTOR VEHICLE OPERAT ION BY A 8
HUMAN DRIVER SEATED IN THE VEHICLE; OR 9

(2) ARE NOT RELEVANT FOR AN AUTOMATED DRIVING SYSTEM. 10

21–1506. 11

A STATE AGENCY OR LOCAL POLITICAL SUBDIVISION MAY NOT PROHIBIT THE 12
OPERATION OF FULLY A UTONOMOUS VEHICLES O N HIGHWAYS UNDER THE 13
JURISDICTION OF THE STATE AGENCY OR LOCAL POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OR 14
OTHERWISE ENACT OR K EEP IN EFFECT RULES OR ORDINANCES THAT WOULD 15
IMPOSE TAXES, FEES, OR OTHER REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC TO THE OP ERATION OF 16
FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES. 17

21–1507. 18

PERSONAL DATA , AS DEFINED IN § 14–4701 OF THE COMMERCIAL LAW 19
ARTICLE, THAT IS COLLECTED BY AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE IS SUBJECT TO TITLE 20
14, SUBTITLE 47 OF THE COMMERCIAL LAW ARTICLE. 21

21–1508. 22

(A) IF THE ADMINISTRATION HAS IN FORMATION, DATA, OR OTHER 23
EVIDENCE INDICATING THAT AN AUTONOM OUS VEHICLE IS NOT I N SAFE 24
MECHANICAL CONDITION AND MAY ENDANGER PER SONS ON THE HIGHWAY , THE 25
ADMINISTRATION MAY IS SUE A REQUEST FOR RE LEVANT INFORMATION T O THE 26
PERSON WHO SUBMITTED THE FIRST RESPONDER INTERACTION PLAN REQUIRED BY 27
§ 21–1502(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE OR THE PERSON’S SUCCESSOR. 28

(B) (1) THE PERSON WHO SUBMIT TED THE FIRST RESPONDER 29
INTERACTION PLAN SHALL RESPOND TO A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION SUBMITTED 30
8 SENATE BILL 909

UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SPECIFIED 1
BY THE ADMINISTRATION. 2

(2) THE RESPONSE REQUIRED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 3
SUBSECTION MAY BE IN THE FORM O F DOCUMENTS , A MEETING WITH THE 4
ADMINISTRATION, A DEMONSTRATION , OR ANY OTHER REASONA BLE FORM OF 5
COMMUNICATION. 6

(C) (1) AFTER CONSIDERING AND EVALUATING ALL RESPO NSES 7
PROVIDED UNDER SUBSECT ION (B) OF THIS SECTION , IF THE ADMINISTRATION 8
DETERMINES THAT AN A UTONOMOUS VEHICLE IS NOT IN SAFE MECHANIC AL 9
CONDITION AND MAY ENDANGER PERSONS ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ADMINISTRATION 10
MAY SEND A NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUSPEND TH E REGISTRATION OR IMPOSE 11
RESTRICTIONS ON THE OPERATION OF THE AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE TO THE PERSON 12
WHO SUBMITTED THE FIRST RESPONDER INTE RACTION PLAN OR THE PERSON ’S 13
SUCCESSOR. 14

(2) THE NOTICE SHALL INCLUDE: 15

(I) A DESCRIPTION OF THE ADMINISTRATION’S REASONS FOR 16
SUSPENDING THE REGIS TRATION OR RESTRICTI NG OPERATION OF THE 17
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE AND EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE DETERMINATION; AND 18

(II) A STATEMENT REQUIRIN G THAT A CERTIFICATI ON OF 19
CORRECTION OR ADJUSTMENT BE SUBMITTED WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIME AND THAT 20
THE CERTIFICATION INCLUDE AN EXPLANATION OF HOW THE ISSUES IDENTIFIED BY 21
THE ADMINISTRATION IN THE NOTICE HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED. 22

(D) (1) IF THE PERSON WHO SUB MITTED THE FIRST RESPONDER 23
INTERACTION PLAN FOR THE AUTONOMOUS V EHICLE THAT IS THE S UBJECT OF A 24
NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUSPEND THE REGISTRATION OR RESTRICT OPERATION OR 25
THE PERSON’S SUCCESSOR FAILS TO SUBMIT THE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION 26
OR ADJUSTMENT WITHIN THE TIME SPEC IFIED, OR THE ADMINISTRATION FINDS 27
THAT THE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION OR ADJUSTMENT IS INSUFFICIENT, THE 28
ADMINISTRATION SHALL NOTIFY THE PERSON THAT THE REGISTRATION FOR THAT 29
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE H AS BEEN SUSPENDED OR THE OPERATIONS OF TH E 30
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE HAVE BEEN RESTRICTED. 31

(2) IF THE PERSON LATER S UBMITS THE REQUIRED CERTIFICATION, 32
THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL REMOVE THE SUSPENSIO N OR RESTRICTION ON 33
RECEIPT OF THE CERTIFICATION. 34

(E) (1) A PERSON MAY REQUEST A HEARING TO DISPUTE T HE 35
SENATE BILL 909 9

ADMINISTRATION’S FINDING TO SUSPEND THE VEHIC LE REGISTRATION OR 1
RESTRICT OPERATION W ITHIN 10 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF ISSUANCE OF THE 2
NOTICE OF INTENT REQUIRED BY SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION. 3

(2) A HEARING REQUESTED UN DER THIS SUBSECTION SHALL BE 4
HELD WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE SUBMISSION OF A HEARING REQUEST. 5

(3) A DECISION TO UPHOLD T HE DETERMINATION OF THE 6
ADMINISTRATION IS SUBJECT TO APPEAL TO THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY 7
IN WHICH THE PERSON WHO REQUESTED THE HEARING RESIDES. 8

21–1509. 9

(A) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION S (B) AND (C) OF THIS SECTION, A FULLY 10
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE SHALL MAINTAIN: 11

(1) PROOF OF FINANCIAL RE SPONSIBILITY IN THE SAME FORM AND 12
AT THE SAME MINIMUM LIMITS AS REQUIRED BY TITLE 17 OF THIS ARTICLE; 13

(2) PERSONAL INJURY PROTE CTION BENEFITS AS RE QUIRED BY § 14
19–505 OF THE INSURANCE ARTICLE; AND 15

(3) UNINSURED MOTORIST BE NEFITS AS REQUIRED B Y § 19–509 OF 16
THE INSURANCE ARTICLE. 17

(B) (1) A FULLY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE WITH ITS AUTOMATED DRIVING 18
SYSTEM ENGAGED SHALL MAINTAIN PROOF OF FI NANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN AN 19
AMOUNT NOT LE SS THAN $1,000,000 COMBINED SINGLE LIMI T PER OCCURRENCE 20
FOR THIRD–PARTY LIABILITY. 21

(2) MAKERS OF I NSURANCE POLICIES AN D SELF –INSURANCE 22
PROGRAMS MAY CONTRACT AND COO RDINATE WITH EACH OT HER TO DETERMINE 23
WHICH WILL SATISFY P ERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION AND UNINSURED MOTORIST 24
BENEFIT REQUIREMENTS. 25

(C) FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION 26
MAY BE SATISFIED BY HOLDING: 27

(1) AN INSURANCE POLICY ISSUED BY AN INSURER LICENSED IN THE 28
STATE; OR 29

(2) A SURPLUS LINES POLICY ISSUED BY AN ELIGIBLE 30
NONADMITTED INSURER AUTHORIZED UNDER TITLE 3, SUBTITLE 3 OF THE 31
10 SENATE BILL 909

INSURANCE ARTICLE. 1

(D) NO HIGHER LIMITS OF INSURANCE OR ADDITIONAL COVERAGES SHALL 2
BE REQUIRED SOLELY DUE TO AN AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE’S USE OF AN AUTOMATED 3
DRIVING SYSTEM. 4

21–1510. 5

THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL REVOKE A PERSON’S LICENSE TO SELL 6
VEHICLES DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS UNDER § 15–305 OF THIS ARTICLE IF TH E 7
PERSON COMMITS A VIOLATION OF THIS SUBTITLE. 8

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 9
October 1, 2026. 10