New Mexico has limited regulations on self-driving cars and drones, relying mostly on federal guidelines rather than comprehensive state laws as of late 2025. Recent legislative efforts for autonomous vehicles stalled, leaving operations largely unregulated beyond general traffic rules.​
Self-Driving Cars
House Bill 148, introduced in 2025, aimed to require a human operator behind the wheel for autonomous vehicles on public highways until 2036, with restrictions in school and construction zones, but it failed to advance past committee. No enacted state law permits fully driverless cars, so testing requires certification to the Department of Transportation proving 10,000 incident-free miles and compliance with federal safety standards.​
Drone Regulations
New Mexico follows FAA rules for drones, mandating registration for those over 0.55 pounds and remote ID compliance since 2023, with no unique state bans on operations beyond airspace restrictions near airports. Local ordinances may apply in cities like Albuquerque for commercial use, but statewide, recreational drones face standard federal altitude limits (400 feet) and visual line-of-sight requirements.​
Gaps and Federal Overlay
Without passed legislation, self-driving cars operate under NHTSA federal standards, emphasizing manufacturer certification and crash reporting, while drones lack state-specific privacy or cybersecurity mandates. Lawmakers continue debating safety protocols amid testing pushes by companies.
SOURCES
[1](https://statecapitallobbyist.com/transportation/states-take-the-wheel-on-autonomous-vehicle-legislation-in-2025/)
[2](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/house/HB0148.HTML)
[3](https://nmpoliticalreport.com/2025/03/14/autonomous-vehicle-bill-stalls-before-passing-committee/)
[4](https://www.thedriverlesscommute.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Dentons-Global-Guide-to-Autonomous-Vehicles-2025.pdf)
[5](https://www.ncsl.org/transportation/autonomous-vehicles)
