California’s legislature recently passed a bill that requires OEMs to provide options for vehicle tracking to be disabled by the owner in an attempt to protect victims of domestic or sexual assault and human trafficking. 

The bill, SB1394, currently awaits the signature of Gov. Gavin Newsom. If signed, requirements would be rolled out through 2028, according to the bill. 

Starting July 1, 2025, OEMs would be required to provide a driver with the ability to terminate a person’s access to a connected vehicle service. The provider should terminate a person’s access to the vehicle within two business days after a request from a driver is made, the bill says. 

A driver can prove they have the authority to terminate a person’s access to the vehicle via multiple options such as legal title, dissolution decree, or a court order proving exclusive use or possession of the vehicle. 

Starting Jan. 1, 2028, vehicles must clearly indicate to those inside of it who has accessed the connected vehicle service and/or location from outside of the vehicle. OEMs also would be required to include a mechanism in vehicles that allows the driver to immediately disable connected vehicle location access, according to the bill. 

According to Reuters, this appears to be the first measure of its type passed by a state legislature. 

“Legislative analysts cited reporting from Reuters and the New York Times about carmakers who did not help women who alleged they were being targeted by their partners,” the Reuters article says. “One woman unsuccessfully sued Tesla, alleging the company failed to act after she repeatedly complained that her husband was stalking and harassing her with the automaker’s technology despite a restraining order.”

Reuters reports that officials with Newsom’s office said the bill will be “evaluated on its merits.” He has until Sept. 30 to sign the bill.

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