Bill
H 3649
Massachusetts bill would allow autonomous vehicles only if they are zero-emission; restricts AVs to ZEVs on public roads, accelerating BEV/PHEV uptake and raising compliance costs.
Note on source materials
- The materials you provided include text from two distinct proposals: (A) a Massachusetts House bill (House No. 3649) titled in its text “An Act limiting autonomous driving capabilities to zero emission and electric vehicles,” and (B) a South Carolina bill titled the “U.S. Senate Accountability Act.” Below are separate, concise summaries of each, with jurisdiction, purpose, key provisions, affected parties, and procedural notes.
1) Massachusetts — House No. 3649 (filed by Rep. Michael S. Day)
Title / Purpose
- “An Act limiting autonomous driving capabilities to zero emission and electric vehicles.” The bill would restrict the operation of vehicles equipped with autonomous driving technology on Massachusetts public ways to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs).
Key provisions
- Adds definitions to G.L. c. 90:
- “Autonomous technology”: technology that can control a motor vehicle without active human control or monitoring; expressly excludes driver-assist / active safety systems unless they enable full hands-off operation.
- “Autonomous vehicle”: any motor vehicle equipped with autonomous technology.
- “Zero emission vehicle”: defined to include battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and fuel cell vehicles.
- Inserts new Section 19M into chapter 90: “An autonomous vehicle operated on the ways of the commonwealth shall be a zero emission vehicle.”
Who is affected
- Automakers, autonomous-vehicle (AV) developers, fleet operators, ride-hailing and logistics companies seeking to deploy AVs in Massachusetts.
- Consumers and municipalities involved in AV testing/deployments.
- State transportation and enforcement agencies responsible for compliance.
Procedural/timeline notes (from provided actions)
- Prefiled 12/12/2024; introduced 01/14/2025; sponsors added 01/16/2025.
- Referred to committees (Judiciary; Transportation); hearings scheduled/rescheduled for 06/24/2025.
- Accompanied a study order (see H4775) on 11/24/2025.
- HD 3325 listed as a related/replacing bill.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Would effectively limit use and deployment of AV systems to ZEV platforms, potentially accelerating ZEV adoption among AV operators but imposing conversion or compliance costs.
- Could affect AV testing/rollout timelines and business models for non-ZEV AV providers.
- Enforcement details and interaction with federal motor vehicle safety preemption are not specified in the text provided.
2) South Carolina — “U.S. Senate Accountability Act” (proposed addition to S.C. Code, Title 2, Chapter 21)
Title / Purpose
- Establishes an annual formal mechanism for the two U.S. Senators from South Carolina to appear before a joint session of the state General Assembly to exchange information and be accountable to the legislature.
Key provisions
- Annual appearance: Senators to appear before a joint session on March 26 each year (or next regular statewide session day).
- Joint Legislative Committee on the United States Senate:
- Twelve members (6 House appointees by Speaker; 6 Senate appointees by President); appointment rules require majority/minority party representation; two cochairs (one from each chamber).
- Senators must submit certified copies of their most recent calendar-year voting record to the committee at least 30 days before the annual meeting.
- Annual meeting to begin in 2026.
- Senators may speak to justify actions and voting records, discuss federal legislation as it relates to states’ rights, and convey other matters.
- Presiding officers to provide Senators with copies of any General Assembly resolutions for possible introduction in Congress.
- Senior Senator to maintain routine contact with cochairs; committee may poll members of the General Assembly on federal matters and convey results to the Senior Senator.
- Committee required to publish an annual report reviewing each Senator’s performance and voting record relative to the U.S. Constitution; must state when committee finds votes/actions not in conformity with the Constitution and state reasons.
- Severability clause; act effective upon gubernatorial approval.
Who is affected
- South Carolina’s U.S. Senators, members of the General Assembly, state legislative staff, and the public (via published reports and hearings).
Procedural/timeline notes
- The act specifies the annual meeting begins in 2026 and becomes effective on gubernatorial approval.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Institutionalizes state-level oversight and public accountability of federal Senators through an annual legislative forum and reporting requirement.
- May influence communications and political dynamics between the state legislature and U.S. Senators.
- Raises potential constitutional or intergovernmental questions regarding the proper scope of state oversight of federally-elected officials (not adjudicated in the text).
If you’d like, I can:
- Produce a side‑by‑side comparison of the MA ZEV/AV bill’s compliance implications for manufacturers and operators;
- Draft a one‑page brief with likely legal issues (federal preemption, commerce clause, Seventeenth Amendment considerations) for either proposal.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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