Senator Cortese’s SB 1246 Heads to Governor, Demanding Accountability Over Autonomous Vehicles

SACRAMENTO, CA — California State Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose) announced that his Senate Bill 1246, his landmark legislation to strengthen accountability, oversight, and emergency-response standards for Autonomous Vehicles (AV), has cleared the California Legislature and now advances to the Governor’s desk, where it awaits his signature. 

As autonomous vehicles continue to expand across California, SB 1246 ensures that public safety and emergency response keep pace with the technology. The bill would establish statewide standards for remote AV operations, require stronger communication between AV companies and first responders, and give local emergency personnel the tools they need to respond when autonomous vehicles become disabled, obstruct traffic, or interfere with emergency operations.

“We should never allow technology to move faster than public safety. Autonomous vehicles are already operating on our streets, and our laws must ensure that when something goes wrong, a human being is there to respond, immediately,” said Senator Dave Cortese. “SB 1246 puts real accountability behind the promise of autonomous technology. It makes clear that AV companies cannot simply deploy vehicles and leave first responders to figure out the consequences. If a driverless vehicle crashes, blocks an emergency lane or becomes disabled, our police officers, firefighters and paramedics need a direct line to someone who can act, not a corporate voicemail. I urge Governor Newsom to sign my SB 1246.”

SB 1246 would:

  • Require remote drivers to be based in the United States and hold a U.S. driver’s license;
  • Require AV companies to notify local jurisdictions about the location and status of vehicles during system-wide failures;
  • Guarantee first responders an on-site contact who can assist with AV accidents and obstructions;
  • Ensure AVs can be manually or remotely disabled at the request of a first responder;
  • Establish penalties, returned to local jurisdictions, when an AV blocks first-responder operations during an emergency for more than 30 minutes; and
  • Increase transparency through additional reporting on company response times to AV incidents.

“As the people who serve our communities every day, our members know that public safety depends on accountability. SB 1246 gives first responders the authority they need when every second matters, protects everyone who shares our roads, and requires companies operating driverless vehicles in our neighborhoods to be transparent and responsible,” said David Green, President and Executive Director of SEIU 721. “No company should be allowed to use our public streets without clear accountability to the communities they serve. SB 1246 puts public safety first and supports the frontline workers who protect us.”

Recent incidents have demonstrated the need for these safeguards. In August 2025, an autonomous vehicle near Redwood City became stranded near an active grass fire and could not be redirected. It ultimately took a California Highway Patrol officer approximately 30 minutes to access and move the vehicle.

In December 2025, a power outage in San Francisco reportedly stalled approximately 1,500 Waymo vehicles, disrupting traffic and public transit operations and creating challenges for emergency responders. Responders attempting to contact AV companies for assistance reportedly faced delays of up to 53 minutes.

SB 1246 is sponsored by SEIU California and supported by the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, California Conference Board of the Amalgamated Transit Union, California Federation of Labor Unions, AFL-CIO, California Police Chiefs Association, and California Professional Firefighters.

Senator Dave Cortese represents Senate District 15, which encompasses San Jose and much of Santa Clara County in the heart of Silicon Valley. Visit Senator Cortese’s website: https://sd15.senate.ca.gov

Contact:

Mario B. Lopez, Communications Director

Office of Senator Dave Cortese | District 15

Phone: 408-545-8205 | Email: Mario.lopez@sen.ca.gov

For Scheduling Interviews

Natasha Waxman, Executive Assistant 

Office of Senator Dave Cortese | District 15

Email: natasha.waxman@sen.ca.gov

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