The Assembly Transportation Committee on June 22 heard split testimony on SB 1246, a bill dealing with autonomous-vehicle safety requirements and response protocols after AV accidents or obstructions, and the measure appeared to advance on a 16-4 tally, according to a hearing summary.
The summary says supporters and opponents both weighed in on the proposal, which would address how autonomous vehicles should respond when they are involved in incidents or create hazards such as blocking emergency access. It also says the committee action was a documented policy step in the state’s fast-moving AV regulatory fight.
The summary attributes support for SB 1246 to groups including the California Federation of Labor Unions, the California Police Chiefs Association and the Consumer Federation of California. It also identifies opposition from the California Manufacturers and Technology Association, the Bay Area Council and Chamber of Progress.
The report does not show the final roll call in full and says it is unclear whether the vote was provisional. It also summarizes the bill’s operational standards only in broad terms, and the full hearing record should be checked for the precise language and final vote before publication.
