HB706 • 2026

RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY.

Children

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: TAKENOUCHI
Last action: 2026-04-17
Official status: Re-Referred to TRS, JDC.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date of January 1, 3000 is likely a placeholder and does not indicate when enforcement will actually begin.

Skateboard Helmet Law

This law requires minors under the age of sixteen to wear a helmet while skateboarding in public areas.

What This Bill Does

Requires all skateboard users under the age of sixteen to wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet designed to protect against head trauma when operating a skateboard on streets, roadways, bikeways, or other public property.
Defines 'skateboard' as a short board with wheels that a person stands on to move along a surface or perform tricks.
Does not allow this law to override any local rules about skateboarding.

Who It Names or Affects

Minors under sixteen years old who skateboard in public areas.

Terms To Know

Helmet: A protective head covering designed to prevent injuries, especially to the head and face.
Skateboard: A short board with wheels that a person stands on to move along a surface or perform tricks.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not specify what happens if someone breaks this rule.
It is unclear when the law will actually start being enforced, as it currently has no effective date listed other than January 1, 3000 which seems to be a placeholder.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment requires anyone under the age of sixteen to wear a helmet while riding a skateboard on public roads, streets, bikeways, or other public property.

Adds a new section to Hawaii Revised Statutes requiring minors under sixteen years old to wear helmets when using skateboards in public areas.

The effective date of July 1, 3000 is likely an error and will need correction.
Does not specify penalties for non-compliance or enforcement details.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment requires anyone under the age of sixteen to wear a helmet while riding a skateboard on public roads, streets, or other public property.

Adds a new section to Hawaii Revised Statutes requiring minors under sixteen years old to wear helmets when using skateboards in public areas.

The amendment specifies an effective date of January 1, 3000, which is likely a placeholder and not intended as the actual implementation date.
It does not provide details on enforcement or penalties for non-compliance.

Bill History

2026-04-17 S
Re-Referred to TRS, JDC.
2026-04-02 S
Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
2026-04-01 H
House Conferee(s) discharged.
2026-03-20 H
Received notice of all Senate conferees being discharged (Sen. Com. No. 409).
2026-03-20 S
Senate Conferee(s) discharged.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-04-15 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 788).
2025-04-15 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Lee, C. Chairs; Rhoads Co-Chair; Inouye, Fevella.
2025-04-15 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 732).
2025-04-14 H
House Conferees Appointed: Kila, Poepoe Co-Chairs; Grandinetti, Takenouchi, Pierick.
2025-04-11 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 704).
2025-04-10 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2025-04-08 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 666) in amended form (SD 1).
2025-04-08 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Keohokalole, McKelvey. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2025-04-04 S
One Day Notice 04-08-25.
2025-04-04 S
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1675) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2025-03-27 S
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-03-27 S
The committee on JDC reconsidered its previous decision.
2025-03-27 S
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) San Buenaventura.
2025-03-25 S
The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-27-25 10:40AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2025-03-21 S
The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-25-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2025-03-21 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.
2025-03-21 S
Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1319) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
2025-03-18 S
The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-03-14 S
The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2025-03-06 S
Referred to TCA, JDC.
2025-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 271).
2025-03-04 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka voting no (2) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-28 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1080), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-20 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.
2025-02-18 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 02-20-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-11 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with Representative(s) Amato voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2).
2025-02-11 H
Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 376) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2025-02-06 H
The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Cochran, Evslin, Kitagawa, La Chica, Miyake, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.
2025-02-04 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Thursday, 02-06-25 10:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 2
2025-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-17 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY.
Skateboards; Helmet Requirement; Minors
Requires all skateboard users under the age of sixteen to wear a helmet while operating a skateboard. Takes effect 1/1/3000. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB706

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

706

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to highway safety
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that skateboard
accidents on roadways and streets can result in serious injury to the
skateboard user, including head trauma.
�

According to an article published in the
Journal of Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgery
, "Injuries to the Head and Face from
Skateboarding:
�
A 10-Year Analysis From
National Electronic Injury Surveillance System Hospitals", from 2009 to
2018, there were an estimated 100,201 emergency room visits nationwide related
to trauma to the head and face while skateboarding.
�
The article concluded that "[a]
substantial number of [emergency department] visits were a result of
skateboarding-related facial trauma.
�

Given the neurologic outcomes of head trauma and functional consequences
of facial fractures, especially among adolescents, our findings suggest that
injury prevention programs and more aggressive helmet use may be necessary to
reduce morbidity and hospitalization".

����
The
legislature further finds that existing laws in the State protect bicyclists
under the age of sixteen by requiring operators to wear a helmet.
�
Additionally, the legislature notes that
other states require helmets for minors including California, New York, and
Oregon.
�
Extension of existing safety
provisions for bicyclists to skateboard riders will provide additional
protection for all roadway users.
�

����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to require the use of a safety helmet by anyone
under the age of sixteen while riding a skateboard on roadways and streets.

����
SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 291C, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part XII to be appropriately
designated and to read as follows:

����
"
�291C-
�
Skateboards; helmet required.
�
(a)
�
No person under sixteen years of
age shall operate a skateboard upon a street, roadway, bikeway, or any other
public property unless the person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened
helmet that is designed to fit the user, protect against head trauma, and has
been tested by a nationally recognized agency such as the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, the National Safety Council, or the Children's
Safety Network.

����
(b)
�
This section shall not be
construed to legalize the use of skateboards in violation of any county
ordinance.

����
(c)
�
For the purposes of this
section:

����
"Skateboard" means a short board that is on wheels that a
person stands on to move along a surface or to perform tricks.

����
SECTION
3.
�
New statutory material is
underscored.

����
SECTION
4.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Skateboards;
Helmet Requirement; Minors

Description:

Requires
all skateboard users under the age of sixteen to wear a helmet while operating
a skateboard.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.