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H3697 • 2025

An Act requiring the use of helmets for electronically propelled wheeled vehicle operators and passengers

An Act requiring the use of helmets for electronically propelled wheeled vehicle operators and passengers

Active

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

Sponsor
Steven S. Howitt
Last action
2025-11-24
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H4775
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act requiring the use of helmets for electronically propelled wheeled vehicle operators and passengers

An Act requiring the use of helmets for electronically propelled wheeled vehicle operators and passengers By Representative Howitt of Seekonk, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act requiring the use of helmets for electronically propelled wheeled vehicle operators and passengers By Representative Howitt of Seekonk, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 3697) of Steven S.
  • Howitt relative to requiring the use of helmets for electronically propelled wheeled vehicle operators and passengers.
  • Transportation.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-11-24 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H4775

  2. 2025-06-18 Joint

    Hearing rescheduled to 06/24/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2

  3. 2025-06-16 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 06/24/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-2

  4. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Transportation

  5. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act requiring the use of helmets for electronically propelled wheeled vehicle operators and passengers
By Representative Howitt of Seekonk, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3697) of Steven S. Howitt relative to requiring the use of helmets for electronically propelled wheeled vehicle operators and passengers. Transportation.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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Bill H.3697

Chapter 85 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after Section 11D the following section:-

Section 11D1/2. Any person operating an electric scooter, bicycle, skateboard, or other electronically propelled wheeled vehicle, including hybrid electric bicycles, on a public way, bicycle path or on any other public right-of-way shall wear a helmet. Such helmet shall fit the person's head and be secured by straps at all times and shall meet the standards for helmets established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z 90.4) or the Snell Memorial Foundation's 1984 standard for use in bicycling. A violation of this section shall not be used as evidence of contributory negligence in a civil action. Nothing in this section shall require individuals operating a motorized wheelchair to wear a helmet.

A city or town shall be prohibited from adopting any by-laws or ordinances to change the standards required by this section.

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