119-hr4419

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4419 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

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119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 H. R. 4419

To prohibit a State from issuing a motor vehicle operator's license for 
the operation or use of an ADS-equipped vehicle operating at Level 4 or 
 Level 5 in a manner that discriminates on the basis of disability.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 July 15, 2025

 Mr. Stanton (for himself and Mr. Mast) introduced the following bill; 
 which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and 
 Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To prohibit a State from issuing a motor vehicle operator's license for 
the operation or use of an ADS-equipped vehicle operating at Level 4 or 
 Level 5 in a manner that discriminates on the basis of disability.

 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 ``Autonomous Vehicle Accessibility 
Act'' or the ``AV Accessibility Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act:

    (1) Disability.--The term ``disability'' has the meaning 
 given the term in 

section 12102 of title 42, United States 
 Code.

    (2) Public transportation.--The term ``public 
 transportation'' has the meaning given the term in 

section 5302 
 of title 49, United States Code.

    (3) Ride-hail ads-equipped vehicle.--The term ``ride-hail 
 ADS-equipped vehicle'' means an ADS-equipped vehicle that is--
        (A) offered for pre-arranged transportation 
 services for compensation, using an online-enabled 
 application or electronic platform to connect 
 passengers with vehicles; and
        (B) dispatched in driverless operation.

    (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of Transportation.

    (5) SAE-defined terms.--The terms ``ADS-equipped vehicle'', 
 ``dispatch'', ``Level 4'', ``Level 5'', and ``driverless 
 operation'' have the meanings given such terms in the document 
 titled SAE International Recommended Practice J3016, published 
 in April 2021, or by a revision of that such document 
 subsequently adopted by the Secretary.

SEC. 3. LICENSING.

 In accordance with title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act 
(42 U.S.C. 12132), a State shall not issue a motor vehicle operator's 
license for the operation or use of an ADS-equipped vehicle operating 
at Level 4 or Level 5 in a manner that discriminates on the basis of 
disability against a qualified individual with a disability.

SEC. 4. ACCESSIBLE INFRASTRUCTURE STUDY.

 The Secretary shall seek to enter into an agreement with the 
National Academies to conduct a study to--

    (1) determine changes to public transportation 
 infrastructure that would improve the ability of individuals 
 with disabilities to find, access, and use ride-hail ADS-
 equipped vehicles, including during pickup and dropoff; and

    (2) identify options to simplify safe access of ride-hail 
 ADS-equipped vehicles, such as non-visual access for 
 individuals with disabilities, including the consideration of--
        (A) technological solutions for dynamic curb 
 management;
        (B) sidewalk and roadway design;
            (C) dedicated pick-up and drop-off zones;
            (D) curb extension;
        (E) infrastructure design; and
        (F) other factors that can better enable 
 individuals with disabilities to safely locate, enter, 
 use, and exit ride-hail ADS-equipped vehicles during 
 pickup and dropoff.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

 There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 to carry out 

section 4, to be available until expended.
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