{"id":"a0c4076a-8262-4a38-a21b-503caef2e53d","slug":"california-sb-1246-av-remote-ops-first-responder-2026","kind":"operational_restriction","headline":"California SB 1246 sets remote-operations and first-responder standards for autonomous vehicles","summary":"Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 1246 (Sen. Dave Cortese) on Sep 30 2026. By July 1 2028 it requires autonomous vehicle remote drivers to be based in the United States with a U.S. driver's license, requires AV companies to notify local jurisdictions of vehicle location and status during system-wide failures, guarantees first responders on-site \"local incident technicians,\" establishes local penalties when an AV blocks first-responder operations during an emergency for more than 30 minutes, and adds reporting on company response times. The DMV is to adopt guidelines on technician response times. Sponsored by SEIU California; supported by the California Professional Firefighters, California Association of Highway Patrolmen, California Police Chiefs Association and League of California Cities, among others (senator-stated). Builds on [AB 1777](/regulations/california-ab-1777-av-first-responder-2024).","locationId":"fdf937a9-5eeb-4e8d-a514-ef860b351b30","effectiveAt":"2028-07-01T00:00:00.000Z","expiresAt":null,"reviewStatus":"unreviewed","formFactors":["av"],"jurisdiction":"California","complianceDeadline":"2028-07-01T00:00:00.000Z","enforcementEvents":null,"aliases":["SB 1246","SB-1246","California SB 1246"],"collisionRisk":"none","reviewNote":null,"createdAt":"2026-10-05T02:02:57.745Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-05T02:02:57.745Z","location":{"id":"fdf937a9-5eeb-4e8d-a514-ef860b351b30","name":"California","slug":"california","kind":"state","parentLocationId":"aa8b9c05-c836-4021-801f-59801970401e","region":"West Coast","lat":36.7783,"lng":-119.4179,"reviewStatus":"reviewed","aliases":["california-usa","California, USA"],"collisionRisk":"high","reviewNote":null,"createdAt":"2026-05-23T22:08:25.511Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-08T16:40:34.019Z"},"derived":{"status":"proposed"},"sources":[{"id":"8b372fb9-5a29-4089-87d0-5c761268eae8","regulationId":"a0c4076a-8262-4a38-a21b-503caef2e53d","url":"https://sd15.senate.ca.gov/news/major-victory-public-safety-accountability-oversight-and-emergency-response-standards","label":null,"publishedAt":"2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z","notes":null,"title":"Major Victory for Public Safety as Accountability, Oversight, and Emergency-Response Standards Governing Autonomous Vehicles is Signed into Law","sourceName":"Office of Senator Dave Cortese","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-10-05T02:02:57.745Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-05T02:02:57.745Z"},{"id":"92306d44-c932-4e65-8a03-baed18073115","regulationId":"a0c4076a-8262-4a38-a21b-503caef2e53d","url":"https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/01/robotaxi-operators-will-face-fines-for-blocking-first-responders/","label":null,"publishedAt":"2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z","notes":null,"title":"Robotaxi operators will face fines for blocking first responders","sourceName":"TechCrunch","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-10-05T02:02:57.745Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-05T02:02:57.745Z"},{"id":"fd9f958b-1de3-49aa-b414-3457b7d51bb5","regulationId":"a0c4076a-8262-4a38-a21b-503caef2e53d","url":"https://x.com/Tesla_Optimus_K/status/2106897440309973194","label":null,"publishedAt":"2026-10-04T00:00:00.000Z","notes":null,"title":"California just put a leash on robotaxis","sourceName":"X / @Tesla_Optimus_K","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-10-05T02:02:57.745Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-05T02:02:57.745Z"},{"id":"c1f65179-f649-4ef2-a035-c95a31406ed8","regulationId":"a0c4076a-8262-4a38-a21b-503caef2e53d","url":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB1246","label":null,"publishedAt":null,"notes":null,"title":"SB-1246 Autonomous vehicles. (2025-2026)","sourceName":"California Legislative Information","mediaType":"article","videoId":null,"channel":null,"durationSec":null,"timestampSec":null,"createdAt":"2026-10-05T02:02:57.745Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-05T02:02:57.745Z"}],"statusEvents":[{"id":"2f290fbe-7144-427c-a3d0-f0449b74b0d8","regulationId":"a0c4076a-8262-4a38-a21b-503caef2e53d","status":"proposed","reason":"Signed into law Sep 30 2026; operative requirements by July 1 2028 (not yet in effect).","source":"editor:dr-update-bot (Cortese release)","effectiveAt":"2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z","createdAt":"2026-10-05T02:02:57.745Z"}],"jsonLd":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Legislation","@id":"https://registry.deploy.report/regulations/california-sb-1246-av-remote-ops-first-responder-2026","url":"https://registry.deploy.report/regulations/california-sb-1246-av-remote-ops-first-responder-2026","name":"California SB 1246 sets remote-operations and first-responder standards for autonomous vehicles","description":"Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 1246 (Sen. Dave Cortese) on Sep 30 2026. By July 1 2028 it requires autonomous vehicle remote drivers to be based in the United States with a U.S. driver's license, requires AV companies to notify local jurisdictions of vehicle location and status during system-wide failures, guarantees first responders on-site \"local incident technicians,\" establishes local penalties when an AV blocks first-responder operations during an emergency for more than 30 minutes, and adds reporting on company response times. The DMV is to adopt guidelines on technician response times. Sponsored by SEIU California; supported by the California Professional Firefighters, California Association of Highway Patrolmen, California Police Chiefs Association and League of California Cities, among others (senator-stated). Builds on [AB 1777](/regulations/california-ab-1777-av-first-responder-2024).","identifier":"a0c4076a-8262-4a38-a21b-503caef2e53d","legislationDate":"2028-07-01T00:00:00.000Z","legislationApplies":{"@type":"Place","name":"California"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://deploy.report/#organization"}},"framework_metadata":{"framework_schema_version":"0.1.0","verification_status":"unreviewed","maturity_stage":null,"lifecycle_state":null,"architectural_position":{"cohort":null,"sub_cohorts":[]},"within_cohort_verified_vs_claimed_pair":null,"cap_flags":[],"verification_depth":{"sources_count":4,"primary_source_types":["secondary-industry-publication"]}}}