Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S2379 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2465 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2379
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	William J. Driscoll, Jr.
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act relative to providing multimodal transportation technologies.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :William J. Driscoll, Jr.Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol 1 of 7
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2465 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2379
18	18	By Mr. Driscoll, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2379) of William J. Driscoll, Jr. for
19	19	legislation relative to fully autonomous vehicle and human drivers. Transportation.
20	20	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
21	21	_______________
22	22	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
23	23	(2025-2026)
24	24	_______________
25	25	An Act relative to providing multimodal transportation technologies.
26	26	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
27	27	of the same, as follows:
28	28	1 SECTION 1. Chapter 90 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following
29	29	2new section: -
30	30	3 19L. As used in the chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings
31	31	4unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
32	32	5 "Automated driving system" means hardware and software that are collectively capable
33	33	6of performing the entire dynamic driving task on a sustained basis, regardless of whether it is
34	34	7limited to a specific operational design domain.
35	35	8 “Department” The Massachusetts Department of Transportation established under the
36	36	9provisions of Chapter 6C of the General laws.
37	37	10 "Dynamic driving task" or "DDT" means all of the real-time operational and tactical
38	38	11functions required to operate a vehicle in on-road traffic, including i. Lateral vehicle motion
39	39	12control via steering; ii. Longitudinal motion control via acceleration and deceleration; iii. 2 of 7
40	40	13Monitoring the driving environment via object and event detection, recognition, classification,
41	41	14and response preparation; iv. Object and event response execution; v. Maneuver planning; and
42	42	15vi. Enhancing conspicuity via lighting, signaling, and gesturing. This definition shall not include
43	43	16the strategic functions of trip scheduling and, or the selection of destinations and waypoints.
44	44	17 "DDT fallback" means the response by the person or human driver to either perform the
45	45	18DDT or achieve a minimal risk condition after occurrence of a DDT performance relevant
46	46	19system failure, or upon operational design domain exit; or the response by an automated driving
47	47	20system to achieve minimal risk condition, given the same circumstances
48	48	21 "Fully autonomous vehicle" means a motor vehicle equipped with an automated driving
49	49	22system designed to function without a human driver as a level 4 or 5 system under SAE J3016B
50	50	23standards;
51	51	24 "Human driver" means a natural person in the vehicle with a valid driver's license who
52	52	25controls all or part of the dynamic driving task.
53	53	26 "Minimal risk condition" means a condition to which a person, a human driver, or an
54	54	27automated driving system may bring a vehicle after performing the DDT fallback in order to
55	55	28reduce the risk of a crash when a given trip cannot or should not be completed.
56	56	29 “On-Demand Autonomous Vehicle Network” means a transportation service network
57	57	30that uses a software application or other digital means to dispatch or otherwise enable the pre-
58	58	31arrangement of transportation with fully autonomous vehicles for purposes of transporting
59	59	32passenger goods, including for-hire transportation of passengers or goods for compensation. 3 of 7
60	60	33 "Operational Design Domain" means the operating conditions under which a given
61	61	34automated driving system is specifically designed to function, including but not limited to (i)
62	62	35environmental, geographical, and time-of-day restrictions and (ii) the requisite presence or
63	63	36absence of certain traffic and roadway characteristics.
64	64	37 “Person” means a natural person, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership,
65	65	38limited liability company, association, joint venture, governmental agency, public corporation or
66	66	39any other legal or commercial entity.
67	67	40 "Request to intervene" means a notification by an automated driving system to a human
68	68	41driver that the human driver should promptly begin or resume performance of part of or all of the
69	69	42dynamic driving task.
70	70	43 "SAE J3016" means the "Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to Driving
71	71	44Automation Systems for On-Road Motor Vehicles" published by SAE International on June 15,
72	72	452018, as revised.
73	73	46 SECTION 2. A person may operate on the highways in the commonwealth a fully
74	74	47autonomous vehicle or a motor vehicle equipped with an automated driving system capable of
75	75	48performing the entire dynamic driving task with the automated driving system engaged without a
76	76	49human driver if the vehicle meets the following conditions: i. the vehicle meets the requirements
77	77	50of this chapter and has been issued an autonomous operation license by the Department; ii. if a
78	78	51failure of the automated driving system occurs that renders that system unable to perform the
79	79	52entire dynamic driving task relevant to its intended operational design domain, the vehicle will
80	80	53achieve a minimal risk condition and, if there is a human driver physically present in the vehicle,
81	81	54issue a request to intervene with the expectation that the human driver will respond appropriately 4 of 7
82	82	55to such request; iii. the vehicle is capable of operating in compliance with the applicable traffic
83	83	56and motor vehicle safety laws and regulations of the Commonwealth when it is reasonable to do
84	84	57so unless an exemption has been granted by the Department; iv. when required by federal law,
85	85	58the vehicle bears the required manufacturer's certification label indicating that at the time of its
86	86	59manufacture it has been certified to be in compliance with all applicable federal motor vehicle
87	87	60safety standards, including any exemptions granted by the National Highway Traffic Safety
88	88	61Administration.
89	89	62 A fully autonomous vehicle for which the declared gross weight of the vehicle and any
90	90	63towed unit is 10,000 pounds or heavier shall have a human driver, with the appropriate
91	91	64credentials to operate the vehicle, physically present in the vehicle to monitor the performance of
92	92	65the vehicle and intervene if necessary. Prior to operating a fully autonomous vehicle in the
93	93	66Commonwealth without a human driver, a person shall submit a law-enforcement interaction
94	94	67plan to the Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety and the police department
95	95	68of the city, town or jurisdiction where a vehicle will be operating that describes (i) how to
96	96	69communicate with a fleet support specialist who is available during the times the vehicle is in
97	97	70operation, (ii) how to safely remove the fully autonomous vehicle from the highway and steps to
98	98	71safely tow the vehicle, (iii) how to recognize whether the automated driving system is engaged
99	99	72on the fully autonomous vehicle, and (iv) any additional information the manufacturer or owner
100	100	73deems necessary regarding hazardous conditions or public safety risks associated with the
101	101	74operation of the fully autonomous vehicle. In the event of a crash the fully autonomous vehicle
102	102	75shall remain on the scene in accordance with state law. The owner of the fully autonomous
103	103	76vehicle, or a person on behalf of the vehicle owner, shall report any crashes or collisions in
104	104	77accordance with state law. 5 of 7
105	105	78 SECTION 3. The Department shall develop and issue autonomous operation licenses for
106	106	79fully autonomous vehicles and automated driving systems operated in the Commonwealth. The
107	107	80Department shall only issue such autonomous operation licenses to fully autonomous vehicles
108	108	81and automated driving systems that meet the requirements of this chapter. A fully autonomous
109	109	82vehicle shall be properly titled and registered in accordance with the requirements of this
110	110	83chapter. If a fully autonomous vehicle is registered in the Commonwealth, the vehicle shall be
111	111	84identified on the registration as a fully autonomous vehicle. The requirements under this act
112	112	85relating to exhibiting a driver's license and registration card are satisfied if the autonomous
113	113	86operation license and vehicle registration card are in the fully autonomous vehicle and available
114	114	87for inspection by a law-enforcement officer. When an automated driving system installed on a
115	115	88motor vehicle is engaged, the automated driving system is considered the driver or operator for
116	116	89the purpose of assessing compliance with applicable traffic or motor vehicle laws and shall be
117	117	90required to satisfy all physical acts required by a driver or operator of the vehicle.
118	118	91 SECTION 4. Before operating a fully autonomous vehicle on public roads in the
119	119	92commonwealth without a human driver, a person shall submit proof of financial responsibility to
120	120	93the Department that the fully autonomous vehicle is covered by insurance or proof of self-
121	121	94insurance in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 175 of the Massachusetts General Laws.
122	122	95Such coverage shall be primary, however, and the minimum amount of liability coverage for
123	123	96death, bodily injury, and property damage shall be $1 million.
124	124	97 SECTION 5. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to (i) prohibit a human driver
125	125	98from operating a fully autonomous vehicle to control all or part of the DDT, (ii) prohibit a fully
126	126	99autonomous vehicle from operating without a human driver except as provided in this Act, (iii) 6 of 7
127	127	100prohibit a human driver from operating a vehicle with an automated driving system that is not a
128	128	101fully autonomous vehicle with such system engaged or disengaged, or (iv) apply to toy vehicles.
129	129	102 SECTION 6. An on-demand autonomous vehicle network shall be permitted to operate in
130	130	103the Commonwealth in accordance with the provisions of this Act under the jurisdiction of the
131	131	104Department.
132	132	105 SECTION 7. A fully autonomous vehicle shall be properly registered in accordance with
133	133	106the provisions of this Chapter. If a fully autonomous vehicle is registered in the Commonwealth,
134	134	107the vehicle shall be identified on the title as a fully autonomous vehicle. A fully autonomous
135	135	108vehicle shall be properly titled in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter. If a fully
136	136	109autonomous vehicle is registered in the Commonwealth, the vehicle shall be identified on the
137	137	110title as a fully autonomous vehicle.
138	138	111 SECTION 8. A person may operate a motor vehicle equipped with an automated driving
139	139	112system capable of performing the entire dynamic driving task if (i) such automated driving
140	140	113system will issue a request to intervene whenever the automated driving system is not capable of
141	141	114performing the entire dynamic driving task with the expectation that the person will respond
142	142	115appropriately to such a request; and (ii) the automated driving system is capable of being
143	143	116operated in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
144	144	117 Nothing in this Act shall prohibit or restrict a human driver from operating a fully
145	145	118autonomous vehicle equipped with controls that allow the human driver to control all or part of
146	146	119the dynamic driving task.
147	147	120 SECTION 9. A fully autonomous vehicle that is also a commercial motor vehicle
148	148	121pursuant to the provisions of this chapter governing the operation of commercial motor vehicles, 7 of 7
149	149	122except that any provision that by its nature reasonably applies only to a human driver does not
150	150	123apply to such a vehicle operating with the automated driving system engaged.
151	151	124 SECTION 10. A fully autonomous vehicle that is designed to be operated exclusively by
152	152	125the automated driving system for all trips is not subject to motor vehicle equipment laws or
153	153	126regulations of this state that: (1) relate to or support motor vehicle operation by a human driver
154	154	127seated in the vehicle; and (2) are not relevant for an automated driving system.
155	155	128 SECTION 11. Unless otherwise provided in this chapter and notwithstanding any other
156	156	129provision of law, fully autonomous vehicles and automated driving systems are governed
157	157	130exclusively by the provisions of this Act. No state agency, political subdivision, municipality, or
158	158	131local entity may prohibit the operation of fully autonomous vehicles, automated driving systems,
159	159	132or on-demand autonomous vehicle networks, or otherwise enact or keep in force rules or
160	160	133ordinances that would impose taxes, fees, or other requirements (including performance
161	161	134standards), specific to the operation of fully autonomous vehicles, automated driving systems, or
162	162	135on-demand autonomous vehicle networks in addition to the requirements of this Act.