SB226 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald H. AllenSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

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

Summary

SB226 allows Alabama to use cars with automated driving systems on public roads under specific safety, liability, and regulatory rules.

What This Bill Does

The bill sets when ADS-equipped vehicles can operate on public roads, including requiring compliance with traffic laws and registration. It allows operation without a human driver if the vehicle can reach a minimal risk condition. It establishes insurance and liability standards, accident reporting rules, and limits on local regulation, while clarifying who is considered the operator and how liability is determined.

Who It Affects

• ADS-equipped vehicle owners/operators (including commercial operators) and manufacturers/insurers: must ensure compliance with laws, registration, insurance at specified levels, and accident reporting; may operate without a human driver under minimal risk conditions; face liability rules in crashes.
• Government entities, law enforcement, and the public: subject to defined regulatory boundaries (limits on local taxes and specific ADS requirements), accident reporting procedures, liability standards, and rules for on-demand autonomous vehicle networks.

Key Provisions

• Defines ADS, ADS-equipped vehicle, and related terms; requires ADS to perform the dynamic driving task under defined conditions.
• Allows ADS-equipped vehicles to operate with no conventional human driver if capable of achieving a minimal risk condition.
• Fully autonomous vehicles must show proof of financial responsibility of at least $100,000.
• In crashes without a human driver, owner must promptly report, vehicle may alert authorities, keep at scene, provide registration/insurance to affected parties, and owner may be liable up to $1,000,000 per accident if operated by a commercial entity.
• Conventional human drivers must hold a valid license for the vehicle class.
• Operation of ADS and automated systems is governed exclusively by this act; local entities cannot impose extra ADS-specific rules or taxes except as authorized, and counties are not required to upgrade infrastructure beyond normal practices.
• ADS is deemed the operator when engaged and solely responsible, under defined conditions; vehicle must be maintained as intended by the manufacturer and no intervention requested.
• Liability is determined by state/federal/common law; original manufacturers are not liable for defects in third-party conversions unless the defect existed in the original vehicle.
• ADS-designed vehicles may be exempt from certain conventional motor vehicle laws; ADS marker lamps may be used per SAE guidelines.
• On-demand autonomous vehicle networks may operate under transportation network company laws, with certain human-driver provisions not applying to ADS engaged on the network; fully autonomous vehicles must meet insurance requirements in Section 4.
• Counties are not required to construct/upgrade traffic control devices beyond standard practices; act takes effect October 1, 2024.

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 & Traffic