AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE ACT

HB 148, the Autonomous Vehicle Act, establishes safety rules for self-driving vehicles in New Mexico. It requires a human operator to be physically present behind the wheel of any autonomous vehicle until 2036, mandates safety testing and incident reporting, and sets specific standards for vehicle operation. The bill also restricts commercial autonomous vehicle use on public roads, adds insurance requirements, and creates a special commercial driver's license endorsement for operators of self-driving trucks. Currently pending in committee (postponed indefinitely in June 2025), this legislation would directly affect autonomous vehicle manufacturers, testing companies, and commercial operators.