Minneapolis council's bid to require a human in every robotaxi fails after the mayor's veto

Minneapolis City Council passed an ordinance 7-6 on 1 October 2026 requiring a licensed human monitor in the driver's seat of every robotaxi. Backers framed it as protecting rideshare jobs. Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed it, saying "requiring a driver in a driverless car doesn't make sense" and calling it a backdoor ban; Waymo called it a de facto ban. On 15 October the council failed to override, with seven votes against the nine needed. Supporters say they will try again. Minnesota's legislature failed to agree rules for autonomous vehicles in the spring. In neighbouring St. Paul, the council instead asked its planning commission to study guardrails on safety, data-sharing and worker protection.

The episode shows cities trying to regulate automation through labour protection when the state is silent. The open question is which level of government ends up setting the rules, and whether St. Paul's study-first route produces a model others copy.