Read the full stored bill text
SB745
THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
745
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING
TO ELECTRIC BICYCLES
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section 291C-150, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:
����
"
[
[
]�291C-150[
]
]
�
Bicycle helmets.
�
(a)
�
No
person under sixteen years of age shall operate a bicycle upon a street,
bikeway, or any other public property unless that person is wearing a properly
fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that 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, and is designed
to fit the user and protect against head trauma.
�
This requirement also applies to a person who
rides upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the
bicycle or who rides in a trailer towed by the bicycle.
����
(b)
�
A person who:
����
(1)
�
Is under eighteen years of age and
who operates a high-speed electric bicycle upon a street, bikeway, or any other
public property; or
����
(2)
�
Rides upon a bicycle while in a
restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle, or in a trailer towed by the
bicycle;
shall wear
a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that 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,
and is designed to fit the user and protect against head trauma.
����
[
(b)
]
(c)
�
A person who provides
bicycles for hire shall not rent a bicycle to any person unless every person
who is under age sixteen is wearing a bicycle helmet, as required in subsection
(a), while operating the rented bicycle, occupying a restraining seat that is
attached to the rented bicycle, or riding in a trailer towed by the rented
bicycle.
����
[
(c)
]
(d)
�
A violation of this section
is punishable by a fine of not more than $25.
�
The parent or legal guardian having control or custody of an
unemancipated minor whose conduct violates this section shall be liable for the
amount of the fine imposed pursuant to this section.
����
[
(d)
]
(e)
�
Notwithstanding any law to
the contrary, the fines collected for a violation of this section shall be paid
into the state treasury to the credit of the state general fund."
����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 291C-1,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:
����
(1)
�
By adding the definition of
"high-speed electric bicycle" to read:
����
"
"High-speed
electric bicycle" means a two- or three‑wheeled vehicle with an
electric motor of seven hundred fifty watts or one horsepower or more, having a
maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by the motor, of
twenty miles per hour or more.
"
����
(2)
�
By amending the definition of
"motorcycle" to read:
����
""Motorcycle"
means every motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and
designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground [
but
excludes a farm tractor and a moped.
]
, including a high-speed electric
bicycle.
�
"Motorcycle" does not
include a farm tractor or moped.
"
����
SECTION
3
.
�
Section 286-2,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending the definition of
"motorcycle" to read as follows:
""Motorcycle"
means:
����
(1)
�
Every motor vehicle that has a handlebar
and seating that requires the operator to straddle or sit astride on it and is
designed to travel on no more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but
excludes a farm tractor and a moped; or
����
(2)
�
Every motor vehicle that has a steering
wheel or handlebar and seating that does not require the operator to straddle
or sit astride on it, is designed to travel on three wheels in contact with the
ground, and is called an autocycle, which is certified by the manufacturer to
comply with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards as of the
date of manufacture.
����
(3)
�
A high-speed electric bicycle, as
defined in section 291C-1.
"
����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act does
not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and
proceedings that were begun before its effective date.
����
SECTION
5
.
�
Statutory
material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory material is underscored.
����
SECTION
6
.
�
This Act shall
take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED
BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
High-Speed
Electric Bicycle; Motorcycle; Helmet; License; Safety; Traffic Code
Description:
Requires
all riders of a high-speed electric bicycle who are under 18 years of age or in
a restraining seat or trailer towed by the bicycle to wear a safety helmet.
�
Requires licensure of high-speed electric
bicycle operators.
�
Defines "high-speed
electric bicycle."
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.