New York Governor Clears Path for Robotaxis Everywhere, With One Notable Exception

Kathy Hochul plans to introduce legislation to legalize robotaxis across New York state, with one major exception: New York City.

Hochul announced the proposal Tuesday during her State of the State address, saying it would advance the next phase of New York's autonomous vehicle (AV) pilot program.

Specific details about the bill and its release timeline remain limited. However, additional context is provided in a document outlining the proposals and commitments in Hochul's address. That document includes language calling for an expansion of the State's existing AV program to allow for "the limited deployment of commercial for-hire autonomous passenger vehicles outside New York City."

Under the proposal, companies seeking to operate commercial robotaxi services would be required to submit applications demonstrating local support for autonomous vehicle deployment and compliance with what the State describes as "tStateghest possible safety standards."

The document does not define what constitutes "limited deployment" or specify how those safety standards would be measured or enforced. It also does not detail how the State would evaluate Statepany's safety track record, aside from noting that oversight would involve multiple agencies, including the New York Department of Motor Vehicles, the New York Department of Transportation, and the New York State Police.

The governor's office said additional information will be included in Hochul's executive budget proposal, which is scheduled for release on January 20.

Despite the lack of detail, Waymo, Alphabet's robotaxi unit, welcomed the announcement.

"Governor Hochul's proposal to legalize fully autonomous vehicles is a transformative moment for New York's transportation system," said Justin Kintz, Waymo's head of global public policy, in an emailed statement.

"With the Governor's leadership, New York has the opportunity to pair its investments in slower speeds, better traffic enforcement, and first-in-the-nation congestion management strategies with Waymo's demonstrably safe technology," Kintz said. "We're ready to work with leaders around the state to make this future a reality and bring new infrastructure, career opportunities, and investment to the Empire State."

Waymo and other autonomous-vehicle companies have spent years attempting to gain a foothold in New York, with limited progress. Current state law requires drivers to keep at least one hand on the steering wheel at all times — a rule incompatible with fully autonomous robotaxis, which operate without a human driver and, in some cases, without a traditional steering wheel.

New York's existing AV pilot program provides exemptions to that rule, allowing companies to test autonomous vehicles under controlled conditions. However, significant obstacles remain, particularly within New York City.

In August, city regulators granted Waymo a permit to test robotaxis in New York City. The permit allows Waymo to deploy up to eight Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn, provided a human safety operator remains behind the wheel. A Waymo spokesperson said the permit has been extended through March 31.

Even with that extension, Waymo is not permitted to carry passengers or operate a commercial robotaxi service in the city without securing additional approvals from the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission.

Legislation introduced last year to establish a framework for fully driverless operation has stalled in the New York State Senate's transportation committee. Hochul's new proposal could help remove that legislative roadblock, potentially opening the door to broader robotaxi deployment — everywhere in New York except its largest city.