HB 2516 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO HELMETS.

Summary

Increases the age of an individual who is required to wear a helmet for electric foot scooters and bicycles. Prohibits a person from operating any class of electric bicycle or electronic micro-mobility device unless that person wears a helmet. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Last action Feb 18, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB2516 → HB2516_HD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands helmet laws to cover all types of electric bicycles and electric micro-mobility devices, not just high-speed ones. It also raises the age limit for mandatory helmet use on bicycles and electric scooters from sixteen to eighteen. The effective date is set to July 1, 3000, which appears to be a placeholder or clerical error.

Scope change

The bill's scope broadened from applying only to 'high-speed electric bicycles' to include Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 electric bicycles, as well as electric micro-mobility devices like electric skateboards.

REQUIREMENT

Helmet requirements were expanded to apply to all classes of electric bicycles and electric micro-mobility devices, whereas previously they only applied to high-speed electric bicycles.

ELIGIBILITY

The age threshold for mandatory helmet use on bicycles and electric scooters was increased from sixteen to eighteen years old.

DEFINITION

New definitions were added for Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 electric bicycles, as well as a definition for electric micro-mobility devices.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed to July 1, 3000, likely indicating a placeholder date that requires correction.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 435-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Miyake, Evslin, Kitagawa, La Chica, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Cochran; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Grandinetti.

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 6

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

22 primary · 1 co-sponsor