STAND. COM. REP. NO. 508

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 537

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 537 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TWO-WHEELED MOTORIZED VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require all operators and passengers of two-wheeled motorized vehicles to wear safety helmets with securely fastened chin straps when on highways, streets, roadways, or any other public property in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation; AAA Hawaiʻi; and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that despite advancements in vehicle safety, operators and passengers of two-wheeled motorized vehicles remain particularly vulnerable to severe injuries and fatalities due to their lack of protective barriers. Existing laws do not adequately address this heightened risk, leading to preventable deaths and life-altering head injuries. Your Committee further finds that studies consistently demonstrate the effectiveness of helmets in reducing fatalities and preventing head injuries.

Your Committee notes that a blanket helmet requirement affecting multiple two-wheeled motorized vehicles may not be necessary. Your Committee does, however, recognize the importance of requiring helmets for motorcycles.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have required all operators and passengers of two-wheeled motorized vehicles to wear certain safety helmets and all associated language, while maintaining:

(A) Language that repeals the exception for when a person is not required to wear a safety helmet when operating a moped or motor scooter leased from a rental company;

(B) The helmet requirement for operators and passengers of motorcycles; and

(C) Language that prohibits the rental or leasing of an electric foot scooter to a person unless they wear a safety helmet;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 537, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 537, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

____________________________

DARIUS KILA, Chair