HouseH.R. 10033119th Congress
AV Emergency Response Coordination Act
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10033 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10033
To establish minimum standards for how autonomous vehicle operators
work with emergency responders, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 3, 2026
Mr. Mullin introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish minimum standards for how autonomous vehicle operators
work with emergency responders, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``AV Emergency Response Coordination
Act''.
SEC. 2. EMERGENCY RESPONDER SAFETY AND COORDINATION GUIDANCE.
(a) In General.--The Administrator shall require, and establish a
uniform format and process for, covered entities to submit to the
Administrator--
(1) an emergency response guide containing detailed
information described in subsection (b) to support the
coordination of emergency responders with covered entities and
the development of procedures for responding to incidents
involving covered vehicles; and
(2) a clear and concise rescue sheet containing relevant
information described in subsection (b) that is intended for
use by an emergency responder at the scene of an incident
involving a covered vehicle to deal with exigent circumstances.
(b) Documentation.--Each emergency response guide and rescue sheet
submitted in accordance with subsection (a) shall detail--
(1) the process by which a covered entity informs emergency
responders and emergency management agencies in the operating
region of how the covered vehicle interacts with emergency
responders; and
(2) the methods by which emergency responders may--
(A) communicate with a covered entity, including
through the hotline required under subsection (f), to
coordinate on the safe operations of its covered
vehicles during, and respond in real time to, incidents
involving its covered vehicles, including--
(i) collisions;
(ii) unplanned stoppage events;
(iii) natural disasters, including floods,
earthquakes, wildfires, severe storms, and
extreme heat;
(iv) declared emergencies, major civic
events, and evacuations;
(v) major infrastructure failures; and
(vi) first responder activity unrelated to
the operation of autonomous vehicles;
(B) move, disable, immobilize, and tow a covered
vehicle;
(C) identify the operational status of a covered
vehicle, including whether the automated driving system
is activated, the status of its engine, and the status
of any other vehicle systems that may affect emergency
response;
(D) identify and mitigate hazards related to a
covered vehicle involved in a collision, unplanned
stoppage event, or follow-up response involving a
second responder or public official;
(E) access the occupants of a covered vehicle in an
emergency, including how emergency responders may--
(i) physically extricate occupants; and
(ii) communicate with occupants in real
time when an emergency responder is outside the
vehicle;
(F) issue geofence notices to a covered entity;
(G) communicate with remote human personnel; and
(H) preserve and recover data and video from a
covered entity to investigate a covered vehicle's
involvement in a collision, unplanned stoppage event,
or follow-up response involving a second responder or
public official.
(c) Frequency.--
(1) Each covered entity shall provide in writing to each
first responder agency, emergency management agency, and
transportation authority in the operating region, or work with
a State, Tribal, or local government to distribute such
information to each such agency and authority--
(A) prior to a covered entity operating a covered
vehicle on a public road or selling, offering for sale,
introducing, delivering for introduction in interstate
commerce, or importing into the United States a covered
vehicle for operation on a public road within such
operating region--
(i) notice that it is planning to operate
therein;
(ii) a point of contact at the covered
entity for such agency or authority to
communicate with the covered entity regarding
emergency situations and non-emergency issues;
and
(iii) the emergency response guide and
rescue sheet consistent with the uniform
process and format established by the
Administrator, as required under subsection
(a), but, in the absence of such a process and
format, the information otherwise required
under subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2); and
(B) any updated version of such guide and rescue
sheet not later than 5 days after an emergency response
guide and rescue sheet has been materially updated and
submitted to the Administrator pursuant to paragraph
(2)(B).
(2) Each covered entity shall--
(A) submit the emergency response guide and rescue
sheet to the Administrator on the later of the date
that is--
(i) no later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of this Act; or
(ii) prior to a covered entity operating a
covered vehicle on public roads or selling,
offering for sale, introducing, delivering for
introduction in interstate commerce, or
importing into the United States a covered
vehicle for operation on public roads; and
(B) submit to the Administrator any updated version
of such guide and rescue sheet on the later of the date
that is--
(i) 30 days prior to making material
changes to the vehicle or system, including its
software, that affect the subject areas
described in subsection (b); or
(ii) as soon as practicable for material
changes to the vehicle or system, including its
software, that pose an unreasonable risk to
motor vehicle safety or vulnerable road users
materially related to the subject areas
described in subsection (b).
(d) Public Availability.--
(1) The Administrator shall establish and maintain on a
mobile friendly website a searchable, publicly available, and
central repository of emergency response guides and rescue
sheets submitted under this subsection. Such website may be
incorporated into other databases related to covered vehicles.
(2) The Administrator shall make each emergency response
guide and rescue sheet submitted under this subsection publicly
available not later than 10 days after the date on which the
Administrator receives such guide or sheet.
(e) Standardization of Emergency Procedures.--
(1) Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Administrator shall issue a final rule
establishing a minimum standard for how covered entities shall
enable emergency responders to conduct the activities with
covered vehicles that are enumerated under subsection (b)(2).
(2) In developing the standard required under paragraph
(1), the Administrator shall--
(A) consult with--
(i) State and local agencies that have
experience collaborating with covered entities,
including agencies that employ first responders
and second responders and transportation
authorities;
(ii) State and local emergency management
agencies and other entities that prepare
communities for disasters, including
earthquakes, wildfires, severe storms, extreme
heat, and flooding;
(iii) covered entities;
(iv) organizations that work to advance
traffic safety and pedestrian safety;
(v) organizations that advance the
interests of bicyclists and other vulnerable
road users;
(vi) organizations that advance the
interests of people with disabilities; and
(vii) relevant standard-setting
organizations; and
(B) consider standards already developed by private
entities.
(3) Compliance.--
(A) Not later than 1 year after a final rule issued
pursuant to paragraph (1), a covered entity shall not
operate a covered vehicle on a public road or sell,
offer for sale, introduce, deliver for introduction in
interstate commerce, or import into the United States a
covered vehicle for operation on a public road, unless
it is compliant with the standards promulgated under
paragraph (1).
(B) Upon the request of a covered entity, the
Administrator may grant an exemption from the
requirement under subparagraph (A) lasting no more than
1 additional year for covered vehicles already
operating on public roads at the time of the issuance
of a final rule pursuant to paragraph (1).
(4) Not later than 180 days after the enactment of this
Act, the Administrator shall issue a final rule establishing a
process by which a Federal, State, or local government agency
may issue a geofence notice to a covered entity pursuant to
subsection (g) and the required process by which covered
entities receive and respond to such notice and other emergency
orders.
(f) Emergency Hotline.--Beginning no later than 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, a covered entity shall--
(1) maintain a telephone hotline that is available for
emergency responders to communicate with the covered entity in
the event of an emergency, including the ability to coordinate
with remote human personnel;
(2) ensure availability of such hotline at all times; and
(3) respond to callers on such hotline within 30 seconds.
(g) Geofencing Notices.--Beginning not later than 180 days after
the enactment of this Act, a covered entity shall not operate a covered
vehicle without a human driver physically present on a public road or
sell, offer for sale, introduce, deliver for introduction in interstate
commerce, or import into the United States a covered vehicle for
operation on a public road unless it is compliant with--
(1) all geofence notices within 2 minutes of their issuance
or through the process established by the Administrator under
subsection (e)(4), or operated merely to remove a covered
vehicle from an area subject to a geofence notice; and
(2) all emergency orders with which a human driver would
need to comply that are issued by a Federal, State, Tribal, and
local governments or agencies within the operating region.
(h) Enforcement.--
(1) Section 30165(a)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by inserting ``sections (c), (e)(3), (f), or (g) of the
AV Emergency Response Coordination Act,'' after ``30127,''.
(2) When compliance with a provision of this Act by more
than one covered entity would result in materially duplicative
activities, only one such covered entity shall be required to
comply with such provision, but a covered entity shall be
responsible for ensuring compliance with all relevant
provisions of this Act even when another entity carries out
such activities on its behalf.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration.
(2) Automated driving system.--The term ``Automated Driving
System'' or ``ADS'' means a Level 3 system, Level 4 system, or
Level 5 system and includes hardware and software that are
collectively capable of performing the entire dynamic driving
task on a sustained basis, regardless of whether it is limited
to a specific operational design domain and regardless of the
presence of a safety operator.
(3) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means a
manufacturer or operator that manufactures for sale, sells,
offers for sale, introduces or delivers for introduction in
interstate commerce, imports into the United States, or
operates a covered vehicle.
(4) Covered vehicle.--The term ``covered vehicle'' means a
vehicle with an Automated Driving System.
(5) Emergency responder.--The term ``emergency responder''
means first responders and second responders.
(6) Emergency response guide.--The term ``emergency
response guide'' means a document that is similar to templates
established by the International Organization for
Standardization in standard ISO 17840-3 (published in April
2019), or another standard established by the Administrator.
(7) First responder.--The term ``first responder'' has the
meaning given to the same term in section 561.5 of title 49,
Code of Federal Regulations.
(8) Geofence notice.--The term ``geofence notice'' means a
request issued by a first responder or other Federal, State,
Tribal, or local government or agency to a covered entity to
have its covered vehicles avoid a geographic area for up to 72
hours to address an emergency, disaster, or other safety
hazard, until the issuer sends notice of the rescission of such
a request, but a request may be extended by the issuer of such
request if the issuer determines that the operation of a
covered vehicle in such a geographic area poses an ongoing
safety hazard and reissues such request.
(9) Level 3 system.--The term ``Level 3 system'' means the
same as and is coterminous with the definition of ``Level or
Category 3 - Conditional Driving Automation'' in SAE J3016
Taxonomy and Definitions for Terms Related to Driving
Automation Systems for On-Road Motor Vehicles Sec. 5.4 (April
2021), but the Administrator may revise the definition based on
updated versions of that or other relevant documents. A Level 3
system is an Automated Driving System (ADS) on the vehicle that
can perform all aspects of the driving task under some
circumstances. In those circumstances, the human driver must be
ready to take back control at any time when the ADS requests
the human driver to do so. In all other circumstances, the
human driver performs the driving task.
(10) Level 4 system.--The term ``Level 4 system'' means the
same as and is coterminous with the definition of ``Level or
Category 4 - High Driving Automation'' in SAE J3016 Taxonomy
and Definitions for Terms Related to Driving Automation Systems
for On-Road Motor Vehicles Sec. 5.5 (April 2021), but the
Administrator may revise the definition based on updated
versions of that or other relevant documents. A Level 4 system
is an Automated Driving System (ADS) on the vehicle that can
perform all driving tasks and monitor the driving environment
(essentially, do all the driving) in certain circumstances
without the need for a takeover-ready human driver. When
operated solely within its limited domains, any human occupants
are considered passengers and need not be involved in the
driving task.
(11) Level 5 system.--The term ``Level 5 system'' means the
same as and is coterminous with the definition of ``Level or
Category 5 - Full Driving Automation'' in SAE J3016 Taxonomy
and Definitions for Terms Related to Driving Automation Systems
for On-Road Motor Vehicles Sec. 5.6 (April 2021), but the
Administrator may revise the definition based on updated
versions of that or other relevant documents. A Level 5 system
is an Automated Driving System (ADS) on the vehicle that can do
all the driving in all circumstances. Any human occupants are
just passengers and need never be involved in the driving task.
(12) Manufacturer.--The term ``manufacturer'' means a
person developing, fabricating, manufacturing, assembling, or
importing motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment (including
pre-production and prototype motor vehicles and equipment). A
manufacturer may also be an operator.
(13) Mobile friendly.--The term ``mobile friendly'' has the
meaning given to the same term in section 3559 of title 44,
United States Code.
(14) Operating region.--The term ``operating region'' means
the geographic areas in which a covered vehicle operates,
regardless of whether such vehicle was designed to operate in
such areas, and geographic areas in which a covered entity
imminently plans to have its covered vehicles operate.
(15) Operator.--The term ``operator'' means the entity
operating a motor vehicle equipped with ADS on a publicly
accessible road. An operator may also be a manufacturer.
(16) Remote human personnel.--The term ``remote human
personnel'' means a human being not physically present within a
covered vehicle who has situational awareness of and the
ability to move, direct, or immobilize such vehicle on their
own or as directed by an emergency responder.
(17) Rescue sheet.--The term ``rescue sheet'' means a
document that is similar to templates established by the
International Organization for Standardization in standards ISO
17840-1 (published in February 2022) and ISO 17840-2 (published
in April 2019), or another standard established by the
Administrator.
(18) Second responder.--The term ``second responder'' has
the meaning given to the same term in section 561.5 of title
49, Code of Federal Regulations.
(19) Unplanned stoppage event.--The term ``unplanned
stoppage event'' means an event, other than a collision or an
incident intentionally caused by a human driver, during which,
as a result of an Automated Driving System, a covered vehicle--
(A) stops on a public road in a travel lane and is
unable to proceed without retrieval, manual
intervention, or the assistance of remote human
personnel;
(B) interferes with the normal functioning of
public transit or public transit vehicles, including
light rail;
(C) interferes with the activities of law
enforcement or first responders; or
(D) interferes with a construction or work zone.
(20) Vulnerable road user.--The term ``vulnerable road
user''--
(A) means any individual who is not an occupant of
a motor vehicle with more than 3 wheels; and
(B) includes--
(i) pedestrians;
(ii) bicyclists;
(iii) motorcyclists;
(iv) individuals traveling in wheelchairs;
and
(v) riders or occupants of other transport
vehicles that are not motor vehicles, including
all-terrain vehicles and tractors.
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