NH SB216: Autonomous vehicle commission and testing pilot

In one paragraph

New Hampshire's SB 216 creates an Autonomous Vehicle Advisory Commission (RSA 241) and an automated vehicle testing and deployment pilot program run by the Division of Motor Vehicles (RSA 242). Testing entities need department approval, $5 million in financial responsibility and pay a $500 annual fee; driverless vehicles and on-demand driverless networks may operate if conditions are met. Signed August 2, 2019 (Chapter 310); the commission provisions took effect August 2, 2019, RSA 242:1 I-VIII, XIII and XIV on September 1, 2019 and RSA 242:1 IX-XII on July 1, 2021.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

Companies testing automated vehicles on New Hampshire roads must be approved by the DMV, show $5 million in financial responsibility and pay $500 a year. Driverless operation and ride networks need insurance and the safety conditions of RSA 242:1.

Key provisions

1. 1RSA 241 creates a commission to study autonomous vehicles (state safety, transportation and IT officials, motor vehicle and fire standards directors, two representatives and one senator) that reports each November 1
2. 2RSA 242:1 requires the DMV to run a pilot program testing automated vehicle technology on public roads; testing entities need department approval, proof of at least $5 million financial responsibility and pay a $500 annual fee
3. 3Testing without a test driver or human driver requires notice to the department, including an acknowledgment that the vehicle can reach a minimal risk condition and an emergency response guide
4. 4The department may suspend or refuse a testing entity for significant or recurring failures to follow the rules of the road or for a material misstatement
5. 5A driverless capable vehicle may operate without a human driver if it can reach a minimal risk condition, can comply with traffic laws, meets federal law, and its owner or manufacturer shows insurance or self-insurance under RSA 264 (effective July 1, 2021)
6. 6On-demand driverless capable vehicle networks may carry people or goods; after an accident the owner must promptly report it, and a driverless vehicle's failure to comply with RSA 264:25 is imputed to the owner (or to the manufacturer if an ADS error caused it), who may be charged
7. 7The state controls ADS regulation exclusively: no state or local entity may add ADS-specific requirements, taxes or fees
8. 8Signed August 2, 2019 (Chapter 310); effective dates August 2, 2019, September 1, 2019 and July 1, 2021 as above

Who must comply, and what it requires

Read from the official text by AI Laws by State and last checked Nov 15, 2026. Each entry links to the section it comes from. Information, not legal advice.

Who it covers

• Testing entity. An entity that applies to the Division of Motor Vehicles to test automated vehicles on New Hampshire public roads. No size threshold in the text. RSA 242:1, III
• Owner or manufacturer. The owner of a vehicle with an automated driving system operated on public roads; crash-reporting failures caused by a system error are imputed to the manufacturer. No size threshold in the text. RSA 242:1, IX, XI, XII
• On-demand autonomous vehicle network. A person running a network that dispatches driverless vehicles for for-hire, public or shared rides. No size threshold in the text. RSA 242:1, X

What it requires

• Testing entity. Get Division of Motor Vehicles approval before testing, applying with entity and vehicle details, operational design domain, test areas, a safety self-assessment or training summary, and signed acknowledgments. Before testing automated vehicles on public roads. RSA 242:1, III(a), (b) When triggered
• Testing entity. Show financial responsibility of at least $5 million for personal injury or property damage judgments, by insurance policy, bond or other instrument. As part of the testing application. RSA 242:1, III(b)(7) When triggered
• Testing entity. Answer a written department request for more information within 15 business days. When the department asks for more information about an application. RSA 242:1, IV(a) When triggered
• Testing entity. Pay an annual $500 participation fee. Each year the entity participates in the pilot program. RSA 242:1, IV(b) When triggered
• Testing entity. Before testing with no driver aboard, notify the department, acknowledge the vehicle can reach a minimal risk condition, and submit an emergency response guide for first responders. Before driverless testing. RSA 242:1, V(a) When triggered
• Testing entity. Let only trained employees, contractors or authorized agents holding a valid license operate or monitor test vehicles. During testing. RSA 242:1, II(j), III(b)(8) When triggered
• Owner. Submit proof of insurance or self-insurance meeting RSA 264 to the department before the automated vehicle operates on public roads. Before an ADS-equipped vehicle operates on public roads, including without a human driver. RSA 242:1, IX(d), XII When triggered
• Owner. Promptly report any accident to law enforcement and comply with RSA 264:25 where applicable. An accident involving a vehicle operating without a human driver. RSA 242:1, XI When triggered
• Owner or network operator. Operate without a human driver only if the vehicle can reach a minimal risk condition, follow traffic and safety law unless exempted, and meet federal law. Driverless operation, including vehicles dispatched by an on-demand network. RSA 242:1, IX, X When triggered

Enforcement

Who enforces

Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles, the sole state agency implementing the chapter. A web search on November 15, 2026 found no lawsuit or court order against this law; court dockets were not searched.

Can individuals sue?

The law does not say
RSA 242:1

Time to fix a violation

The law does not say

• Suspension of, or refusal to allow, participation in the pilot program. Significant or recurring failure to follow the rules of the road posing undue safety risk, or a material misstatement; written notice within 48 hours stating the grounds and the steps to cure. RSA 242:1, VI(a), (b)

Exemptions and limits

• An applicant need not disclose proprietary or confidential business information when answering department requests. RSA 242:1, IV(a)
• State and local governments may not impose additional ADS-specific requirements, taxes or fees. RSA 242:1, XIII(b), (c)

Dates in the text

• Aug 2, 2019. The autonomous vehicle advisory commission is established. RSA 241 source notes (2019, 310:3, eff. Aug. 2, 2019)
• Sep 1, 2019. The automated vehicle testing pilot program and deployment rules take effect (the source note gives a second date, July 1, 2021, without saying which parts). RSA 242:1 source note (2019, 310:4, eff. Sept. 1, 2019 and July 1, 2021)

Citation: 2019 N.H. Laws ch. 310 (SB 216); RSA 241:1-5 (advisory commission); RSA 242:1 (testing pilot program and deployment). Official text. Spot an error? Tell us.

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Latest legislative action

Aug 5, 2019. Signed by the Governor on 08/02/2019; Chapter 310

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