A proposed bill in Congress is turning up the heat on Waymo and other autonomous vehicle operators, demanding minimum national safety standards for how robotaxis interact with emergency responders. The legislation, expected this week from Rep. Kevin Mullin (D-Calif.), signals a regulatory shift the industry can no longer ignore. Main Developments Mullin's bill would direct federal regulators to establish baseline safety requirements for autonomous vehicle operators. The push follows a string of incidents where robotaxis blocked ambulances and fire trucks, drove into active crime scenes, and failed to recognize traffic cones and flares. Background Autonomous vehicle operators have long operated under a patchwork of state-level rules with no federal minimum standards. Previous incidents, including robotaxis interfering with emergency scenes, have drawn criticism but not prompted legislative action until now. Read also: eBay Settles Harassment Case for $56M Over 2019 Campaign Why It Matters New federal requirements could reshape how robotaxis are deployed in cities, potentially slowing expansion as companies must prove their vehicles can safely navigate emergency situations. The stakes are high: public trust in autonomous technology hangs on its ability to coexist with first responders. What's Next The bill is expected to be introduced in Congress this week. If passed, federal regulators would begin a rulemaking process to set the new standards, a timeline that could take months or years.