_Regulation · Other_

# Florida autonomous vehicle law (Fla. Stat. 316.85; CS/HB 311 of 2019)

Canonical ID: `f54aa868-9a55-49d7-a002-7123187b3472`

- **Jurisdiction:** [Florida](/locations/united-states/florida.md) (id: `3439b3dc-67be-47a1-abe2-97bbbc19c95e`)
- **Kind:** `other`
- **Status (derived):** in_effect
- **Effective:** 2012-07-01

Florida's autonomous-vehicle framework, one of the most permissive in the US. It began with CS/HB 1207 (2012, ch. 2012-111) authorizing AV testing/operation by a licensed operator, was amended by a 2016 transportation omnibus (HB 7027), and was substantially expanded by CS/HB 311 (2019, ch. 2019-101): a fully autonomous vehicle may operate with NO human operator present and NO special state permit, with the automated driving system deemed the operator, plus on-demand-AV-network insurance rules and a legislative intent of statewide uniformity that preempts local AV bans. Codified at Fla. Stat. 316.85, 316.86, and 319.145, with definitions at 316.003(3). TRUCK SCOPE: the definitions are class-agnostic ('any vehicle equipped with an automated driving system'), with no weight cap or commercial-vehicle exclusion, and the 2016 amendment opened the door to truck platooning, so the law applies to both passenger AVs (robotaxis) AND autonomous trucks. Waymo launched public robotaxi service in Miami in January 2026 under this no-permit framework.

## Sources (12)

1. https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399%2F0316%2FSections%2F0316.85.html
2. https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/316.003
3. https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0319/Sections/0319.145.html
4. https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2019/311
5. https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/bills/billsdetail.aspx?billid=48460
6. https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/navigating-the-road-ahead-floridas-autonomous-vehicle-statute-and-its-effect-on-liability/
7. https://www.phelps.com/a/web/6rLYXJMb3axzKRFn2GR53m/ta-vol-38-n3-2019-dahdah-av-laws.pdf
8. https://law.justia.com/codes/florida/2019/title-xxiii/chapter-316/section-316-85/
9. https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/22/waymo-continues-robotaxi-ramp-up-with-miami-service-now-open-to-public/
10. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/22/waymo-launches-robotaxi-service-in-miami-extending-us-lead.html
11. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/18/waymo-texas-florida-2026.html
12. https://www.ncsl.org/transportation/autonomous-vehicles-legislation-database

## Status history

- **in_effect** · 2019-07-01 · editor:DEPLOY content-agent (Sprint 5b-2 robotaxi-state laws)
    - CS/HB 311 (2019, ch. 2019-101) expansion: fully autonomous operation with NO human operator and NO special permit; ADS deemed the operator; statewide uniformity preempts local bans. Basis for Waymo's Jan 2026 Miami robotaxi launch.
- **in_effect** · 2012-07-01 · editor:DEPLOY content-agent (Sprint 5b-2 robotaxi-state laws)
    - Florida AV testing/operation authorized by CS/HB 1207 (2012, ch. 2012-111); amended by the 2016 transportation omnibus (HB 7027).

_API: GET /v1/regulations/f54aa868-9a55-49d7-a002-7123187b3472 · sources: /v1/regulations/f54aa868-9a55-49d7-a002-7123187b3472/sources · status: /v1/regulations/f54aa868-9a55-49d7-a002-7123187b3472/status · canonical URL: /regulations/florida-av-law_