STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1810

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 958

H.D. 2

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 958, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

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

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

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

(4) Establish rules for electric bicycle operation;

(5) Prohibit the use of mopeds and electric motorcycles on any path or road designated for bicycle use;

(6) Establish definitions; and

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

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Department of Transportation Services of the City and County of Honolulu, Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women & Children, Ulupono Initiative, Hawaiʻi Bicycling League, and five individuals.

Your Committee finds that in the State there have been an average of seven bicyclist fatalities from 2022 through 2024, compared to an average of four fatalities involving bicyclists from 2019 through 2021, meaning that the amount of bicycle-related fatalities over the past three years has nearly doubled compared to the three years prior. Your Committee further finds that since 2015, the State has seen approximately one electric bike-related fatality each year, including one fatality in 2023 involving a thirteen-year-old boy and another this year involving a seven‑year-old girl. Your Committee believes that this alarming trend demonstrates the need for improved policy to address the State's more vulnerable road users while laying the foundation for safe electric mobility use. This measure will provide additional clarity to existing law and reinforce statewide education efforts to promote safe and responsible electric mobility use.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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

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

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair