File #: Int 1457-2025    Version: * Name: Licensing and use of autonomous vehicles as taxis.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
On agenda: 11/12/2025
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the licensing and use of autonomous vehicles as taxis
Sponsors: Justin L. Brannan, Gale A. Brewer, Frank Morano
Council Member Sponsors: 3
Summary: This bill would require the Taxi and Limousine Commission to make rules regulating the use of autonomous vehicles as taxis, particularly with respect to licensing, safety, vehicle standards, reporting of trip and fare information, and insurance.
Indexes: Agency Rule-making Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1457, 2. Int. No. 1457, 3. Memorandum in Support, 4. November 12, 2025 - Stated Meeting Agenda

Int. No. 1457

 

By Council Members Brannan, Brewer and Morano

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the licensing and use of autonomous vehicles as taxis

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Section 19-557 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 90 for the year 2025, is renumbered as section 19-558.

§2. Chapter 5 of title 19 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 19-559 to read as follows:

§ 19-559 Autonomous taxis; rules. a. All vehicles licensed by the commission must be operated by a human driver at all times, and no autonomous vehicle shall be licensed by the commission to provide transportation for hire, unless and until the commission establishes a license for the use of an autonomous vehicle pursuant to subdivision b of this section. The commission shall not license any autonomous vehicle to provide transportation for hire unless that vehicle is a taxi.

b. Before licensing an autonomous vehicle as a taxi, the commission shall establish a license for use of an autonomous vehicle as a taxi and shall promulgate rules regarding such license and the operation of autonomous taxis. In promulgating such rules, the commission shall at a minimum set requirements for the following:

1. The process for issuing a license to use an autonomous vehicle as a taxi;

2. The issuance of such licenses to owners of taxicab medallions;

3. The number of such licenses to be issued and any restrictions on the number of licenses that may be issued to any one person or entity;

4. The safety standards for use of an autonomous vehicle as a taxi;

5. The insurance required to use an autonomous vehicle as a taxi;

6. The reporting to the commission of trip and revenue data, including the pickup and drop-off location, mileage, and fare for each trip;

7. The vehicle standards for such autonomous vehicles, including whether the vehicle is a wheelchair accessible vehicle or a low- or zero-emission vehicle; and

8. Such other rules as the commission considers to be necessary for the safe and orderly use of an autonomous vehicle as a taxi.

c. The commission shall deny an application for a license for use of an autonomous vehicle as a taxi if such vehicle or applicant does not comply with the rules of the commission and, after due notice and an opportunity to be heard, may suspend or revoke a license for failure to comply with such rules.

§ 3. This local law takes effect immediately.

Session 13

REC

LS #5206

9/24/25 10:15 AM

 

Session 11

NAB

LS #16081

10/18/21 12:45 PM