HB266 • 2025

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

Housing

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Ortega
Last action: 2026-03-27
Official status: Signed 3/27/26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify if this law applies retroactively or what happens with existing rental services before enactment.

Law Allowing Scooter Rentals in Large Delaware Cities

This law lets cities with at least 30,000 people create rules to allow the rental of low-speed motorized scooters.

What This Bill Does

Changes state laws about how low-speed motorized scooters can be used for rent.
Allows cities with populations of 30,000 or more to make their own rules on scooter rentals through an ordinance or other regulation.

Who It Names or Affects

Cities in Delaware that have a population of 30,000 people or more
Companies that want to rent out low-speed motorized scooters

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not say when the new rules will start taking effect.
Cities with fewer than 30,000 people cannot use this law to allow scooter rentals.

Amendments

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

SA 1

1 • Pettyjohn

Passed 3/12/26

Plain English: This amendment allows any city in Delaware, regardless of its size, to create rules for renting electric scooters.

Removes the rule that only cities with at least 30,000 people can allow scooter rentals.

Bill History

2026-03-27 Delaware General Assembly
Signed by Governor
2026-03-17 Delaware General Assembly
Passed By House. Votes: 39 YES 2 ABSENT
2026-03-12 Delaware General Assembly
Amendment SA 1 to HB 266 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
2026-03-12 Delaware General Assembly
Amendment SA 1 to HB 266 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
2026-03-12 Delaware General Assembly
Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES
2026-03-11 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Environment, Energy & Transportation) in Senate with 8 Favorable
2026-01-28 Delaware General Assembly
Passed By House. Votes: 41 YES
2026-01-28 Delaware General Assembly
Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate
2026-01-20 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Public Safety & Homeland Security) in House with 8 On Its Merits
2026-01-13 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 Act allows a large municipality to permit the rental of a low-speed motorized scooter through ordinance or other regulation.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Ortega & Rep. Cooke & Sen. Brown

Reps. K. Johnson, Morrison, Neal, Phillips, Bolden, Lambert, Harris; Sens. Hansen, Lockman, Cruce, Buckson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 266

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 § 4198Q, 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.

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

service.

service unless explicitly permitted by municipal ordinance or other regulation in a municipality with a population of 30,000 or more.

SYNOPSIS

This Act allows a large municipality to permit the rental of a low-speed motorized scooter through ordinance or other regulation.