SB311 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald H. AllenSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to motor vehicles; to provide for the authorization and use of motor vehicles equipped with an automated driving system.

Summary

SB311 would authorize motor vehicles with an automated driving system to operate on Alabama roads under a defined set of rules and protections.

What This Bill Does

It allows ADS-equipped vehicles to operate on public roads if they can follow traffic laws and safety standards and are properly registered and insured. If the vehicle can reach a minimal risk condition, it may operate without a conventional human driver. The ADS is treated as the driver for law compliance, and the bill sets liability rules, including protections for original manufacturers in certain conversions. It preempts most other state or local ADS-specific rules or taxes unless the act authorizes them.

Who It Affects

• ADS-equipped vehicle owners and operators who may operate such vehicles on public roads, must ensure registration, insurance, and proof of financial responsibility, and must comply with applicable licensing when a human driver is present.
• Law enforcement, the Department of Revenue, insurers, and other regulators who handle crash reporting, insurance verification, and enforcement, while local governments cannot impose extra ADS-specific rules or taxes beyond what the act allows.

Key Provisions

• Defines key terms: Automated Driving System (ADS), ADS-equipped vehicle, Dynamic Driving Task (DDT), Minimal Risk Condition, and Operational Design Domain (ODD).
• Authorizes operation of ADS-equipped vehicles on public roads with the ADS engaged, provided they can comply with all traffic laws and safety standards and are properly registered and titled.
• Allows operation without a conventional human driver if the vehicle can achieve a minimal risk condition.
• Requires proof of financial responsibility to the Department of Revenue showing compliance with the Mandatory Liability Insurance Act.
• Establishes that the ADS is the driver for law compliance and provides liability considerations, including a defense for original manufacturers in certain third-party vehicle conversions.
• Preempts most additional state/local requirements and taxes related to ADS operation unless expressly authorized by this act.
• Crashes involving ADS-equipped vehicles without a human driver require reporting to law enforcement, potential alerting of emergency services, staying at the scene, and provision of registration/insurance information to affected parties.
• If a conventional human driver is present, that driver must hold a valid license for the vehicle class.
• Vehicles designed to be operated exclusively by ADS for all trips may not be subject to motor vehicle equipment laws related to human drivers.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Motor vehicles, use of motor vehicles equipped with an automated driving system