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HB114 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MOTORIZED SCOOTERS.

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MOTORIZED SCOOTERS.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Romer
Last action
2025-08-21
Official status
Signed 8/21/25
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is listed as 'upon signature' or a specified date, but no specific future date was provided in the text other than January 1, 2026 for labeling requirements.

Rules for Low-Speed Motorized Scooters

This law lets people ride slow electric scooters on roads and bike paths while keeping fast scooters illegal.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines a low-speed motorized scooter as one that cannot go faster than 19 miles per hour.
  • Allows these scooters to be ridden where bicycles are allowed, such as streets and bike lanes.
  • Requires riders under age 18 to wear an approved bicycle helmet while riding.
  • Mandates that manufacturers put a permanent label on each scooter showing its speed and power starting in January 2026.
  • Prohibits people from changing the top speed of a scooter unless they replace the official label.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who ride low-speed motorized scooters
  • Manufacturers and distributors of these scooters

Terms To Know

Low speed motorized scooter
A powered scooter that cannot travel faster than 19 miles per hour.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Scooters cannot be ridden on sidewalks.
  • Local leaders can ban scooters from specific paths if they hold a public hearing and find it is needed for safety or legal reasons.
  • Rental services are not allowed to operate low-speed motorized scooters.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HA 1

1 • Romer

Passed 5/22/25

Plain English: This amendment changes Delaware law by lowering the maximum speed for low-speed scooters to 15 miles per hour and setting a minimum age of 14 to operate them.

  • Lowers the top speed limit for a "low-speed scooter" from 19 mph to 15 mph.
  • Requires anyone operating a low-speed scooter to be at least 14 years old.
  • The amendment text does not explain what specific technical correction was made on line 48, only that the word "old" was added before "must."

Bill History

  1. 2025-08-21 Delaware General Assembly

    Signed by Governor

  2. 2025-06-30 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

  3. 2025-06-18 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Corrections & Public Safety) in Senate with 2 Favorable, 2 On Its Merits

  4. 2025-05-22 Delaware General Assembly

    Amendment HA 1 to HB 114 - Passed In House by Voice Vote

  5. 2025-05-22 Delaware General Assembly

    Passed By House. Votes: 34 YES 7 ABSENT

  6. 2025-05-22 Delaware General Assembly

    Assigned to Corrections & Public Safety Committee in Senate

  7. 2025-05-20 Delaware General Assembly

    Amendment HA 1 to HB 114 - Introduced and Placed With Bill

  8. 2025-05-13 Delaware General Assembly

    Reported Out of Committee (Public Safety & Homeland Security) in House with 6 On Its Merits

  9. 2025-04-10 Delaware General Assembly

    Introduced and Assigned to Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MOTORIZED SCOOTERS.
This bill allows for the limited use of low-speed motorized scooters in Delaware. High speed scooters will remain banned.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Romer & Sen. Sokola

Reps. Burns, Gorman; Sens. Hansen, Wilson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 114

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO MOTORIZED SCOOTERS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 101, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows and redesignate accordingly:

§ 101. Words and phrases.

For the purposes of this title, unless the context otherwise clearly indicates:

(35) “Low speed motorized scooter” means any motorized scooter that cannot travel more than 19 miles per hour.

Section 2. Amend § 4198N, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 4198N. Operation of motorized skateboards and scooters.

(a)

Upon public highways, streets, sidewalks or rights-of-way; penalties for violation. —

Motorized skateboards or scooters shall not be operated upon a public highway or street or sidewalk or right-of-way thereof located within this State except under the following conditions:

(3) A low speed motorized scooter. This section does not apply to any low speed motorized scooter.

(3)

(4)

A person who violates this subsection shall be subject to the following penalties:

a. For the first offense, a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $115.

b. For a second or subsequent offense, committed within 24 months after commission of the first offense, the operator shall be fined not less than $57.50 nor more than $230 and the motorized skateboard or scooter may be ordered to be forfeited by the court.

Section 3. Amend Title 21 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 4198Q. Operation of low speed motorized scooters.

(a) Except as specifically provided in this section, a low speed motorized scooter or an operator of a low speed motorized scooter is afforded all the rights and privileges, and is subject to all the duties, of a bicycle or the operator of a bicycle.

(b) A low speed motorized scooter or a person operating a low speed motorized scooter is not subject to the provisions of this Code relating to financial responsibility or insurance, driver’s licenses, registration, certificates of title, off-highway vehicles, and license plates.

(c) On and after January 1, 2026, manufacturers and distributors of low speed motorized scooters must apply a label that is permanently affixed, in a prominent location, to each low speed motorized scooter. The label must contain the classification number, top assisted speed, and motor power of the low speed motorized scooter, and must be printed in Arial font in at least 9-point type.

(d) No person may tamper with or modify a low speed motorized scooter to change the motor-powered speed capability or engagement of a low speed motorized scooter, unless the label indicating the classification required in subsection (c) of this section is replaced after modification.

(e) A low speed motorized scooter must comply with the equipment and manufacturing requirements for electrically operated toys or other electrically operated articles adopted by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (16 C.F.R. Part 1505).

(f) A low speed motorized scooter may be ridden anywhere bicycles are allowed, including streets, highways, roadways, shoulders, bicycle lanes, bikeways (including bikeways established pursuant to Chapter 10 of Title 17) and bicycle or multi-use paths except for all the following:

(1) A local authority or state agency that has jurisdiction over a bicycle or multi-use path may prohibit the operation of a low speed motorized scooter if the local authority or state agency finds, after notice and a public hearing, that the restriction is necessary for safety reasons or compliance with other laws or legal obligations.

(2) A local authority or state agency that has jurisdiction over a trail that is specifically designated as nonmotorized and that has a natural surface tread that is made by clearing and grading the native soil with no added surfacing materials may prohibit the operation of a low speed motorized scooter on that trail.

(3) Sidewalks, including those permitted to be used by bicycles.

(g) All operators and passengers of a low speed motorized scooter under the age of 18 years must wear an approved, properly fitted, and fastened bicycle helmet. For the purposes of this subsection, “approved helmet” has the meaning provided in § 4198K(a) of this title. The requirement to wear a helmet is subject to the provisions of § 4198K(b)-(f) of this title.

(h) No low speed motorized scooters may be operated as part of a rental service.

SYNOPSIS

This bill allows for the limited use of low-speed motorized scooters in Delaware. High speed scooters will remain banned.