Florida Senate - 2026                                    SB 1258
       
       
        
       By Senator Davis
       
       
       
       
       
       5-01077-26                                            20261258__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to delivery of commercial goods by
    3         autonomous vehicles; amending s. 316.85, F.S.;
    4         prohibiting the use of an autonomous vehicle to
    5         deliver commercial goods directly to a residence or
    6         business for use or retail sale unless a licensed
    7         human operator is physically present in the autonomous
    8         vehicle; requiring the Department of Highway Safety
    9         and Motor Vehicles to submit to the Legislature a
   10         report evaluating the use of certain autonomous
   11         vehicle technology and its impacts on public safety
   12         and employment in the transportation sector by a
   13         certain date; providing requirements for the report;
   14         requiring the department to consult with certain
   15         entities and independent experts in preparing the
   16         report; providing an effective date.
   17          
   18  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   19  
   20         Section 1. Present subsection (6) of section 316.85,
   21  Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (7),
   22  respectively, and a new subsection (6) is added to that section,
   23  to read:
   24         316.85 Autonomous vehicles; operation; compliance with
   25  traffic and motor vehicle laws; testing.—
   26         (6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an
   27  autonomous vehicle may not be used to deliver commercial goods
   28  directly to a residence or business for use or retail sale
   29  unless a licensed human operator is physically present in the
   30  autonomous vehicle.
   31         Section 2. (1) By January 1, 2031, or 5 years after the
   32  commencement of any use of autonomous vehicles to deliver
   33  commercial goods directly to a residence or business for use or
   34  retail sale, whichever occurs later, the Department of Highway
   35  Safety and Motor Vehicles shall submit to the President of the
   36  Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a report
   37  evaluating the use of such autonomous vehicle technology and its
   38  impact on public safety and employment in the transportation
   39  sector.
   40         (2) The report must include all of the following:
   41         (a) A summary of disengagements of autonomous vehicle
   42  technology, related vehicle crashes, and any other information
   43  the department deems relevant.
   44         (b) A recommendation on whether the Legislature should
   45  remove, amend, or maintain the requirement in s. 316.85(6),
   46  Florida Statutes, that licensed human operators be physically
   47  present in autonomous vehicles used to deliver commercial goods
   48  directly to a residence or business for use or retail sale.
   49         (3) In preparing the report under subsection (2), the
   50  department shall consult with all of the following:
   51         (a) The Florida Highway Patrol regarding traffic impacts,
   52  driver and passenger safety risks, and impacts on other
   53  motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
   54         (b) The Department of Commerce regarding job-related
   55  impacts, including any worker displacement and shortcomings in
   56  retraining opportunities.
   57         (c) The Department of Transportation regarding
   58  infrastructure impacts, deficiencies, and needs.
   59         (d) Independent experts regarding the performance of
   60  autonomous vehicle technology, public safety impacts, and any
   61  other relevant factors in considering the deployment of such
   62  technology.
   63         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.