New York Governor Kathy Hochul plans to introduce legislation that would allow commercial robotaxi services across much of New York state, while continuing to exclude New York City, according to a report by TechCrunch.
Hochul outlined the proposal during her State of the State address on Tuesday, saying the measure would advance the next phase of New York’s autonomous vehicle pilot program. A policy document accompanying the address indicates the state intends to permit the “limited deployment of commercial for-hire autonomous passenger vehicles outside New York City.”
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Under the proposal, companies seeking to operate robotaxi services would be required to submit applications demonstrating local government support and adherence to what the state described as “the highest possible safety standards.” Oversight would involve multiple agencies, including the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Police.
The governor’s office said further details will be included in Hochul’s executive budget proposal scheduled for release on Jan. 20. Key elements such as how “limited deployment” would be defined and how safety performance would be assessed have not yet been specified.
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The proposal was welcomed by Waymo, which has long sought to expand autonomous vehicle operations in New York. The company said the legislation could help pair the state’s congestion management and traffic safety efforts with autonomous driving technology.
New York state law currently requires drivers to keep at least one hand on the steering wheel at all times, limiting large-scale autonomous vehicle deployment. While exemptions exist under the state’s pilot program, commercial robotaxi operations remain restricted.
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Regulatory barriers are especially high in New York City. City authorities have previously allowed limited testing of autonomous vehicles with human safety drivers, but commercial passenger services still require additional approvals from city regulators.
Legislation introduced last year to establish a framework for fully driverless commercial operations has stalled in the state Senate, and Hochul’s proposal could help ease that bottleneck, potentially enabling broader deployment elsewhere in the state.