New York Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing legislation to expand the state's autonomous vehicle regulations, potentially allowing limited commercial self-driving car services in cities outside of New York City. The announcement is slated for Tuesday as part of Hochul's annual State of the State address, according to her office.

The proposed legislation aims to create pilot robotaxi programs, contingent on companies submitting applications demonstrating local support and robust safety records. Currently, New York has some of the strictest autonomous vehicle laws in the United States, requiring a driver behind the wheel for any approved testing within the state. This has effectively prevented companies like Alphabet's Waymo, Amazon's Zoox, and Tesla from operating commercial robotaxi services similar to those seen in San Francisco or Las Vegas.

The governor's office stated that the program intends to improve road safety. The exclusion of New York City from the pilot program suggests a cautious approach to introducing autonomous vehicles in densely populated areas.

The move comes as self-driving car services have been gradually expanding across the country. The industry impact could be significant, potentially opening a new market for autonomous vehicle technology and services in New York State. The specific technologies and product details that companies would need to deploy to meet safety and support requirements remain to be seen, but the legislation signals a shift towards embracing autonomous driving.

The next step involves the formal introduction of the legislation and subsequent debate and voting in the New York State legislature. The outcome will determine the future of self-driving car services in the state and the potential for wider adoption of autonomous vehicle technology.