STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1023

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 30

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 S.B. No. 30 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MOPEDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require all moped drivers to wear a safety helmet when driving a moped, regardless of age.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation and five individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Moped Doctors Inc., Mopeds Direct Inc., and seven individuals.

Your Committee finds that safety helmets can be the single critical factor in the prevention or reduction of head injury. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, motorcycle helmets reduce fatalities by thirty‑seven percent. Further, out of fifteen moped-related serious injury crashes in the State in 2023, eleven were not wearing helmets, and seven riders sustained head and facial injuries. Therefore, this measure protects all roadway users across the State while preventing unnecessary traumatic head and facial injuries for moped riders.

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 S.B. No. 30 and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair