SB 1315: Advanced driver assistance systems.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law authorizes the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads for testing purposes by a driver who possesses the proper class of license for the type of vehicle operated if specified requirements are satisfied. Existing law prohibits the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads until the manufacturer submits an application to the Department of Motor Vehicles, as specified, and that application is approved. For these purposes, existing law defines “autonomous vehicle.”

This bill would require the manufacturer of an advanced driver assistance system, or an automobile equipped with an advanced driver assistance system, to ensure a driver is able to disable or disengage either an advanced driver assistance system or autonomous technology as a condition of operating the vehicle under a condition in which manual operation was previously available. The bill would define “advanced driver assistance system” for these purposes. The bill would authorize the Attorney General, a district attorney, or a city attorney to bring a civil action to enforce those prohibitions and would authorize a civil penalty not to exceed $25,000 per violation, as specified. The bill would specify that a violation of those prohibitions is not an unlawful business practice. The bill would also make technical and conforming changes.

Existing law requires the department, upon application for an original driver’s license, to require an examination of the applicant. Existing law requires the examination to test, among other things, the applicant’s knowledge and understanding of the provisions of the Vehicle Code governing the operation of vehicles upon the highways, an actual demonstration of the applicant’s ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in operating a motor vehicle by driving it under the supervision of an examining officer, and a test of the applicant’s hearing and eyesight, as specified.

This bill would require the department, at the next regularly scheduled revision of the driver’s license examination or demonstration of an applicant’s ability to drive, to consider adding one or more questions that pertain to levels of advanced driver assistance systems.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. August 30, 2026Ordered to inactive file on request of Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry.
2. August 13, 2026Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
3. August 13, 2026From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (August 13).
4. August 13, 2026Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
5. August 5, 2026August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
6. July 1, 2026From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
7. June 24, 2026Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
8. June 23, 2026From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (June 22).
9. June 8, 2026Re-referred to Coms. on TRANS. and JUD. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.
10. June 3, 2026From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on INS.
11. May 26, 2026Referred to Coms. on INS. and TRANS.
12. May 19, 2026In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.