CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 215

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 958

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 958, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Prohibit individuals under fifteen years of age from operating a class 3 electric bicycle;

(2) Increase the age requirement for helmet use from sixteen years of age to eighteen years of age;

(3) Allow the use of electric bicycle on public sidewalks, subject to certain conditions;

(4) Establish requirements for electric bicycle operations; and

(5) Prohibit individuals under eighteen years of age from operating an electric motorcycle or motor-driven cycle.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by reverting to the H.D. 2 version and further amending it by:

(1) Clarifying safe riding behaviors when operating an electric bicycle and authorizing the Department of Transportation and each county to adopt rules to define additional unsafe or reckless behaviors;

(2) Including bicycle facilities as places where the operation of a high-speed electric device is prohibited and specifying penalties for operating high-speed electric devices in certain locations;

(3) Clarifying labeling and signage requirements, including penalties, for manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of electric bicycles;

(4) Prohibiting the operation of a moped or electric motorcycle in certain locations;

(5) Reducing the wheel size for bicycles for purposes of the county vehicular tax;

(6) Prohibiting the operation of an electric bicycle in certain areas unless the electric bicycle is properly registered and authorizing the Department of Transportation to adopt rules regarding the electric bicycle registration requirements;

(7) Making conforming amendments to regulate electric micro-mobility devices in a similar manner as electric foot scooters;

(8) Amending the definition of "high-speed electric device";

(9) Authorizing persons under the age of fourteen to operate a class 2 electric bicycle under the direct supervision of a parent, guardian, or person over the age of eighteen;

(10) Clarifying where a bicycle equipped with a motor or class 3 electric bicycle is prohibited from riding on sidewalks;

(11) Repealing language relating to driving mopeds on bicycle lanes and paths;

(12) Clarifying that nothing in this measure shall be construed to prohibit the use of mobility devices as defined in the American with Disabilities Act;

(13) Inserting a severability clause;

(14) Changing the effective date to upon approval; provided that labeling and signage requirements shall take effect on December 31, 2025; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 958, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 958, H.D. 2, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ CHRIS LEE Chair	____________________________ DARIUS KILA Co-Chair
____________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE Co-Chair	____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Co-Chair
____________________________ KARL RHOADS Co-Chair	____________________________ TINA NAKADA GRANDINETTI Co-Chair