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S 7956 New York Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Requires human safety operators for certain autonomous vehicles

Summary
Prohibits any motor vehicle with a manufacturers' gross vehicle weight rating of ten thousand one pounds or more which utilizes autonomous vehicle technology from being operated on public highways unless a natural person holding a valid license for the operation of the motor vehicle's class is present within such vehicle.
Issues: ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires human operators for autonomous vehicles, preserving driving jobs and preventing automation-driven job loss, thus supporting labor employment protection.85% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyMandates human operators for autonomous vehicles, restricting full automation and limiting deployment of self-driving technology per bill's prohibition clause.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRequires human operators for autonomous vehicles to enhance safety standards, directly aligning with transportation safety enhancements in vehicle regulations.95% confidence
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced May 15, 2025 Last action Jan 7, 2026
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Jan 7, 2026
Committee
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
upper
May 15, 2025
Committee
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
upper
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Pete Harckham
Pete Harckham
DDemocratic/Working Families
NY
40
Co
Photo of Jeremy Cooney
Jeremy Cooney
DDemocratic/Working Families
NY
56
Co
Photo of Rob Rolison
Rob Rolison
RRepublican
NY
39
Co
Photo of Shelley Mayer
Shelley Mayer
DDemocratic/Working Families
NY
37