HB 1256

Vehicle Laws - Fully Autonomous Vehicles

Sponsor: Natalie Ziegler (District 9A)Committee: Environment and TransportationSubject: Vehicle Laws - Rules of the RoadStatus: Hearing 2/27 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Dec 1, 2025)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Establishing certain standards and requirements for the operation of fully autonomous vehicles on highways in the State; requiring, before operating a fully autonomous vehicle on a highway in the State, a person to submit a law enforcement interaction plan to the Motor Vehicle Administration; and establishing that a State agency or local political subdivision may not prohibit the operation of fully autonomous vehicles on highways under their jurisdiction.

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Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (0)

MGA witness list

FAV 17FavorableUNF 2UnfavorableINFO 2Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Fisher, Joshualobbyist	Alliance for Automotive Innovation	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Farrah, Jeff	Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Whittaker, Ruth	Chamber of Progress	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Shirek, Jesse	National Federation of the Blind	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Danielsen, Christopher	National Federation of the Blind of Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Othman, Ronza	National Federation of the Blind of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Shirek, Sherry	National Federation of the Blind of Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Melvin, Robertlobbyist	R Street Institute	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Sonalker, ANUJA	STEER TECH LLC	Written (PDF)
FAV	Tabuteau, Richardlobbyist	Tabuteau, LLC	Written (PDF)
FAV	Contreras, Armando	United Cerebral Palsy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hammond, Michael	Volvo Autonomous Solutions	Oral
FAV	Walsh, Matthew	Waymo	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Ziegler, Delegate Zieglerlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Vetter, Drew	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ziegler, Natalie	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	durkin, margaretlobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Schneiderman, Franzlobbyist	Consumer Auto	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Lang, Alan	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Westervelt, Patricia	Maryland Department of Transportation	Written (PDF)
INFO	Harris, Mrs.	Individual	Position only

Organizations on record

Alliance for Automotive InnovationFAV 1

Autonomous Vehicle Industry AssociationFAV 1

Chamber of ProgressFAV 1

Consumer AutoUNF 1

Maryland Department of TransportationINFO 1

National Federation of the BlindFAV 1

National Federation of the Blind of MarylandFAV 3

R Street InstituteFAV 1

STEER TECH LLCFAV 1

Tabuteau, LLCFAV 1

United Cerebral PalsyFAV 1

Volvo Autonomous SolutionsFAV 1

WaymoFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVFisher, JoshuaAlliance for Automotive InnovationRegistered for: Alliance for Automotive Innovation

FAVMelvin, RobertR Street InstituteRegistered for: R Street Institute

FAVTabuteau, RichardTabuteau, LLCRegistered for: Bolt Technology OÜ dba Hopp; Boyd Gaming Corporation; ChargePoint; Chevy Chase Village; Elev8 Baltimore, Inc.; Fortinet…

FAVdurkin, margaretRegistered for: TechNet

UNFSchneiderman, FranzConsumer AutoRegistered for: Auto Consumer Alliance; Consumer Auto