HB 1125 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Automated driving systems; requirements for operation, civil penalties, report.

Summary
Automated driving systems; civil penalties; work group; report. Provides requirements for the operation of fully autonomous vehicles and motor vehicles operated with an automated driving system engaged. The bill requires fully autonomous vehicles and automated driving systems operated in the Commonwealth to receive autonomous operation licenses prior to being operated in the Commonwealth. The bill provides requirements regarding geofences and requirements for providers, as those terms are defined in the bill. The bill also prohibits localities from prohibiting the operation of fully autonomous vehicles or motor vehicles operated with an automated driving system. The bill establishes civil penalties for violations of the provisions of the bill. The bill directs the Department of Motor Vehicles to convene a work group to make recommendations regarding the regulation of fully autonomous vehicles and automated driving systems and the requirements created by the bill and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Transportation no later than November 1, 2026.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Feb 18, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Transportation Substitute · 9 edits
MAJOR
The bill was amended from a general automated driving systems framework to focus specifically on commercial use of fully autonomous vehicles. The scope was narrowed to exclude personal use vehicles, and the chapter title changed to reflect this commercial focus. Several definitions were updated to align with commercial operations, and new requirements were added for cybersecurity protection and remote operator qualifications.
Scope change
The bill's scope was significantly narrowed from covering all automated driving systems to only applying to fully autonomous vehicles used for commercial purposes (transporting property or passengers in furtherance of a commercial enterprise). Personal use vehicles are now explicitly excluded from the chapter's requirements.
SCOPE

Changed chapter title from 'Automated Driving Systems' to 'Commercial Use of Fully Autonomous Vehicles' and added language limiting applicability to commercial operations only.

DEFINITION

Updated 'Human driver' definition to specify they must 'control all or part of the dynamic driving task' rather than 'manually controls all or part of the dynamic driving task'. Added new definition for 'Remote operator' to cover persons monitoring autonomous vehicles from outside the vehicle.

Changed 'SAE J3016' reference date from June 15, 2018 to April 29, 2021, and added reference to successor documents.

REQUIREMENT

Added new requirement that vehicle manufacturers must certify they have taken reasonable action to protect the automated driving system from cybersecurity threats.

Added new requirement that if a vehicle is operated by a remote operator, that operator must possess proper licensing, be able to communicate with vehicle occupants in real time, and be capable of performing the entire dynamic driving task or achieving minimal risk condition.

Modified the DDT fallback requirement to remove the specific requirement for activation of hazard lights and notification to remote operations center when no human driver is present.

Changed section numbering from § 46.2-1420 through 46.2-1430 to § 46.2-1419 through 46.2-1429, removing the final two sections on on-demand networks and commercial vehicle operation that were not included in the substitute version.

ELIGIBILITY

Added explicit exclusion for fully autonomous vehicles operated for personal use, clarifying that the chapter only applies to commercial operations.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the work group requirement and fiscal impact language from the original bill, which were included in the introduced version but not carried forward in the substitute.

Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Left in Committee Transportation
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Lower · Passed
House subcommittee offered
lower
Jan 29, 2026
Committee
Assigned HTRAN sub: Innovations (Ad Hoc)
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Transportation
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of David Reid
David Reid
DDemocratic
VA
28