H7382 • 2026

AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SPECIAL LICENSES FOR MOTORCYCLES, MOTOR SCOOTERS, LOW-SPEED VEHICLES AND OTHER MOTOR DRIVEN CYCLES (Requires all motorcycle operators to wear a helmet regardless of age.)

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Boylan, Speakman, Donovan, Kazarian, DeSimone, Fogarty, Stewart, Ackerman, McGaw
Last action: 2026-02-10
Official status: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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 RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SPECIAL LICENSES FOR MOTORCYCLES, MOTOR SCOOTERS, LOW-SPEED VEHICLES AND OTHER MOTOR DRIVEN CYCLES (Requires all motorcycle operators to wear a helmet regardless of age.)

What This Bill Does

AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SPECIAL LICENSES FOR MOTORCYCLES, MOTOR SCOOTERS, LOW-SPEED VEHICLES AND OTHER MOTOR DRIVEN CYCLES (Requires all motorcycle operators to wear a helmet regardless of age.)

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

2026-02-10 Committee
Committee recommended measure be held for further study
2026-02-06 Rhode Island General Assembly
Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (02/10/2026)
2026-01-28 Rhode Island General Assembly
Introduced, referred to House State Government & Elections

Official Summary Text

AN ACT RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SPECIAL LICENSES FOR MOTORCYCLES, MOTOR SCOOTERS, LOW-SPEED VEHICLES AND OTHER MOTOR DRIVEN CYCLES (Requires all motorcycle operators to wear a helmet regardless of age.)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H7382

2026 -- H 7382
========
LC004322
========

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SPECIAL LICENSES FOR
MOTORCYCLES, MOTOR SCOOTERS, LOW-SPEED VEHICLES AND OTHER MOTOR
DRIVEN CYCLES

Introduced By:
Representatives Boylan, Speakman, Donovan, Kazarian, DeSimone,
Fogarty, Stewart, Ackerman, and McGaw

Date Introduced:
January 28, 2026

Referred To:
House State Government & Elections
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Section 31-10.1-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 31-10.1 entitled "Special
2
Licenses for Motorcycles, Motor Scooters, Low-Speed Vehicles and Other Motor Driven Cycles"
3
is hereby amended to read as follows:
4

31-10.1-4. Required equipment.
5
Operators of motorcycles, motor scooters, and motor-driven cycles shall use eye protection
6
of a type approved by the administrator of the division of motor vehicles when operating their
7
vehicles on streets and highways. Every motorcycle, motor scooter, and motor-driven cycle shall
8
be equipped with a rear view mirror. Any operator
under the age of twenty-one (21)
shall wear a
9
helmet of a type approved by the administrator of motor vehicles.
In addition, all new operators,
10
regardless of age, shall be required, for a period of one year from the date of issuance of the first
11
license pursuant to § 31-10.1-1, to wear a helmet of a type approved by said administrator.
Any
12
person deemed in violation of this provision shall be subject to the fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-
13
4, which shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 41.1 of this title. The
14
administrator of the division of motor vehicles is authorized to set forth rules and regulations
15
governing the use of other equipment on those vehicles. All fines collected under this section shall
16
be deposited in a general restricted receipt account for the use of the Rhode Island governor’s office
17
on highway safety in order to promote educational and informational programs encouraging helmet
18
use.

1
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
========
LC004322
========

LC004322 - Page 2 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES -- SPECIAL LICENSES FOR
MOTORCYCLES, MOTOR SCOOTERS, LOW-SPEED VEHICLES AND OTHER MOTOR
DRIVEN CYCLES
***
1
This act would require all motorcycle operators to wear a helmet regardless of age.
2
This act would take effect upon passage.
========
LC004322
========

LC004322 - Page 3 of 3