A bill sponsored by Rep. Dayan Hochman-Vigil that aims to regulate autonomous vehicle operations in New Mexico may not pass this legislative session. House Bill 148, the Autonomous Vehicle Act, would require human operators in autonomous vehicles until 2036, along with testing, safety plans, incident reporting, specific driver’s licenses, and insurance requirements. Despite some debate, the bill was not voted on in committee and is unlikely to be heard this session. Hochman-Vigil expressed the need for regulations before driverless cars become commercial, to ensure safety and productivity. However, the bill faced challenges from stakeholders who wanted more input and work on the labor portion. Without this bill, attorney Mike Sievers warned of potential risks to public safety and trucking jobs from out-of-state corporations using New Mexico highways. Hochman-Vigil plans to reintroduce the bill next year after more work and stakeholder input. The balance between supporting the autonomous vehicle industry and ensuring safety remains a key issue for legislators.
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