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Senate debates SB46 requiring human safety operator in automated tractor-trailers; roll call taken
Summary
Senate Bill 46, introduced March 20, would require a human safety operator in autonomous tractor-trailers during operation. Sponsor said the bill is not a ban on testing; a roll call was held and the bill requires a two-thirds majority for final passage.
Senate Bill 46, introduced by Senator Mancevenos on March 20, would require a human safety operator to accompany autonomous tractor‑trailers while they are operating in Delaware. The sponsor repeatedly emphasized the bill is aimed at safety and is not a ban on testing or deployment.
Sponsor remarks and bill purpose
Senator Mancevenos described SB46 as largely identical to a measure that passed the chamber last year (Senate Bill 258) and said the bill focuses on safety for automated heavy trucks. “I want to make clear from the beginning, this is not a ban nor a prohibition on testing or having these, trucks travel in Delaware,” the sponsor said, adding the bill requires an appropriately licensed person to be able to take control of the vehicle in an emergency. The bill would also establish a civil penalty for failures to meet the operator requirement and requires a report to the General Assembly on autonomous technology by Jan. 1, 2030.
Support and labor context
The sponsor told senators that the Delaware Volunteer Firefighters Association and labor groups (including the Teamsters) had come out in support of the legislation as a safety‑focused measure.
Floor action and status
Senators debated the bill briefly on the floor and a roll call was conducted. The chair noted the bill requires a two‑thirds majority for passage and instructed the secretary to call the roll. The transcript records a roll-call sequence and repeated "yes" votes but does not include an explicit "declared passed" or final tally statement in the provided excerpt.
What the bill does (as described on the floor)
- Requires a human safety operator with the ability to take control in an emergency while an autonomous tractor‑trailer is operating in Delaware.
- Establishes a civil fine for noncompliance (amount not specified in the floor remarks included in the transcript).
- Requires a technology report to the General Assembly by Jan. 1, 2030.
Next steps
The transcript shows a roll-call process for SB46 and that the bill requires a two‑thirds majority, but the provided record does not show a completed final disposition or declaration of passage. The bill may return for final action or proceed according to the chamber’s enrollment process depending on the remainder of the record and subsequent legislative steps.
