SB 1117 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.

Summary
Prohibits a person from operating a moped or electric motorcycle in certain areas designated for bicycles. Renames the Electric Bicycle and Electric Moped Rebate Program to the Electric Mobility Device Rebate Program. Expands eligibility for the rebate program and amends the maximum rebate amounts. Reduces the deadline to submit an application to six months from the date of purchase. Requires applicants who are enrolled in a school, community college, or university to demonstrate a financial need to be eligible for an additional assistance rebate. Exempts certain class 3 electric bicycles from registration requirements. Establishes a cap for the Electric Mobility Device subaccount and requirements for transferring funds into the subaccount. Amends the age requirement for required helmet use from 16 to 18 years of age. Prohibits a person under the age of fifteen from operating a class 3 electric bicycle. Establishes rules for electric bicycle operation. Allows use of electric bicycles on public sidewalks, subject to certain conditions. Prohibits individuals under 18 years of age from operating an electric motorcycle or motor-driven cycle. Changes the term "motor scooter" to "motor-driven vehicle". Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Governor
Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Apr 25, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1117_SD1 SB1117_SD2 · 9 edits
MAJOR
This bill significantly expands Hawaii's electric mobility laws by updating definitions for electric bicycles and motorcycles, increasing rebate amounts for low-income families, and raising the age for helmet requirements from 16 to 18. It also establishes mandatory insurance for electric motorcycles, prohibits minors under 15 from operating high-speed e-bikes, and allows certain e-bikes on sidewalks. The legislation restructures funding sources and creates a new 'electric mobility' rebate program to replace the previous 'electric bicycle and moped' program.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope from just electric bicycles and mopeds to include electric micro-mobility devices (like standing scooters) and establishes comprehensive insurance requirements for electric motorcycles, which were previously not covered under motorcycle insurance laws.
ELIGIBILITY

Raised the minimum age for operating electric bicycles from 15 to 15 (unchanged) but clarified that individuals under 18 cannot operate electric motorcycles or motor-driven vehicles.

REQUIREMENT

Increased the helmet requirement age from 16 to 18 years old for all bicycle operators on public streets and bikeways.

Requires electric motorcycle operators to carry liability insurance with minimum coverage of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident, matching motorcycle insurance requirements.

Allows certain electric bicycles (Class 3 with small wheels) to be operated on public sidewalks, subject to speed limits and yielding behavior.

Prohibits electric motorcycles and mopeds from driving in bicycle lanes, whereas previous law required moped drivers to use bicycle lanes.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'adaptive electric bicycle' (modified for disabilities), 'electric micro-mobility device' (standing scooters), and 'electric motorcycle' (three-wheeled vehicles exceeding 28 mph or 751 watts).

FISCAL

Increased the maximum rebate amount from $500 to $750 per purchase, with a total annual limit of $1,500 for low-income applicants who qualify for additional assistance.

Increased the annual program funding cap from $700,000 to $2,000,000 and renamed the program to 'Electric Mobility Rebate Program'.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date for most provisions to July 1, 2050, with funding and helmet age changes taking effect July 1, 2025.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
47
Key actions
19
Committee
23
Amendments
1
Apr 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 5:15 PM; Conference Room 225.
upper
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 3:30PM in Conference Room 411.
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 2:00PM in Conference Room 411.
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 12:30PM in Conference Room 329.
lower
Apr 25, 2025
Lower · Passed
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 11:30AM in Conference Room 329.
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 329.
upper
Apr 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 329.
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-23-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 329.
upper
Apr 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-22-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 329.
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Amended
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Introduced
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 672).
upper
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Garcia, Matsumoto, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
lower
Mar 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 13 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Hussey, Alcos, Ward.
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Committee
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Matsumoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Pierick voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2).
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Committee
Reported from CPC/JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1382), recommending referral to FIN.
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Tam, Pierick.
lower
Mar 14, 2025
Committee
Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1236) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC/JHA.
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Evslin, Kitagawa, Miyake, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, La Chica, Pierick.
lower
Mar 4, 2025
Committee
Referred to TRN, CPC/JHA, FIN, referral sheet 18
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Introduced
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 30) in amended form (SD 2).
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fukunaga, Inouye, McKelvey, Moriwaki. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
upper
Feb 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-12-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
upper
Feb 7, 2025
Committee
Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 107) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
upper
Jan 30, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Elefante, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Inouye ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) DeCorte; and 0 Excused: none.
upper
Jan 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 01-30-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
upper
Jan 23, 2025
Committee
Referred to TCA, WAM.
upper
Jan 17, 2025
Introduced
Introduced.
upper
0 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.