HawaiiHawaii would set riding and sales rules for electric bicycles
Electric bicycle riders, sellers, and other device users would follow detailed riding, registration, labeling, age, helmet, and location rules.
What it does
Electric bicycle riders would follow safe-riding rules and register bikes for public use for a permanent $30 fee. Sellers would provide labels, warnings, and legal-use information beginning December 31, 2026.
High-speed electric devices could not be used in public areas, while mopeds and qualifying electric motorcycles could not use bicycle lanes or paths.
Electric skateboards, one-wheels, and similar devices would follow electric-foot-scooter rules. The measure would also set age, helmet, speed, and sidewalk limits for these devices and electric bicycles.
Argument forClear labels and seller disclosures could help buyers understand an electric bicycle’s speed, power, registration needs, and legal places to ride.
Argument againstThe rules could make riding harder for younger people and limit where owners can use faster electric devices, including on sidewalks and bicycle facilities.
More detail
Electric bicycle riders would have to follow specified safe-riding rules, and owners would have to register electric bicycles for public use and pay a $30 permanent fee. The rules cover electric bicycles with working pedals and motors rated at no more than 750 watts. Public roadways, sidewalks, and bicycle facilities are covered by the registration requirement. Riders must stay seated and face forward, keep the wheels on the ground except for brief loss of contact beyond their control, and avoid unsafe, reckless, or stunt riding. Approved parades, tournaments, and other government-permitted activities are exempt from the stunt-riding restriction. An unregistered electric bicycle could lead to a citation or temporary impoundment. The provisions would take effect upon approval, except the labeling, signs, pamphlets, disclosures, and related enforcement rules in section 2 would take effect on December 31, 2026.
People would be barred from operating high-speed electric devices on public roads, bicycle facilities, travel paths, sidewalks, and other public areas. Mopeds and electric motorcycles would be barred from bicycle lanes and paths. A high-speed electric device is a device with a motor above 750 watts that can exceed 28 miles per hour, excluding specified registered vehicles. An electric motorcycle is a two- or three-wheeled vehicle capable of exceeding 28 miles per hour and legally operated under motorcycle licensing, registration, and insurance rules. Violating the high-speed-device rule would be a civil traffic infraction. For a person under 18, enforcement could be directed at a parent or legal guardian or handled through non-money corrective action. These restrictions would take effect upon approval. The Act would also repeal the supplied rule requiring moped drivers to use bicycle lanes.
Electric micro-mobility devices would be regulated like electric foot scooters, and several age, helmet, passenger, speed, lighting, and rental rules would apply. Electric bicycle riders would also face age and sidewalk limits. Electric micro-mobility devices include personal transportation devices weighing no more than 75 pounds, such as one-wheels and electric skateboards, but not electric bicycles or electric foot scooters. People under 15 could not operate an electric foot scooter or electric micro-mobility device in public. People under 18 would need a properly fastened bicycle helmet. People under 16 could not operate a class 3 electric bicycle. A person under 14 could operate a class 2 electric bicycle only under direct adult supervision. Class 1 and class 2 electric bicycles could use sidewalks at no more than 10 miles per hour, except in business districts or where a county bans that use. Class 3 electric bicycles could not use sidewalks. These rules would take effect upon approval. Night equipment rules apply from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 15Act 259, 07/15/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1362).Latest
- Jul 15Act 259, on 07/15/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1362).Became Law
- May 1Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 882).Minor
- Apr 30Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Garcia, Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
- Vote recorded Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 30Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 0 (none).Major
- Apr 30Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 803).Minor
- Apr 30Transmitted to Governor.
- Apr 28Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 10-26) as amended in (CD 1).
- Apr 28Forty-eight (48) hours notice Thursday, 04-30-26.
- Apr 28Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 10-26).
- Apr 2848 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-26
- Apr 24The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Tarnas, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 24The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Wakai, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Apr 22Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 719).Minor
- Apr 22Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-26 9:30AM; CR 329.
- Apr 21Senate Conferees Appointed: Inouye Chair; Wakai, Rhoads Co-Chairs.
- Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Kila, Tarnas Co-Chairs; Muraoka.
- Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).Minor
- Apr 17Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).Minor
- Apr 16House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
- Apr 14Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 14Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 652) in amended form (SD 2).
- Apr 9Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3692) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
- Apr 948 Hrs. Notice 04-14-26.
- Apr 1The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 25The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 04-01-26 10:30AM; CR 016 & Videoconference.
- Mar 23Reported from TRS/EIG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3130) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
- Mar 23Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.Minor
- Mar 17The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EIG were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Wakai, Chang, DeCoite, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on TRS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on EIG recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 17The committee(s) on TRS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TRS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha, Lee, C., DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
- Mar 13The committee(s) on TRS/EIG has scheduled a public hearing on 03-17-26 3:05PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
- Mar 12Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 344).Minor
- Mar 12Passed First Reading.Minor
- Mar 12Referred to TRS/EIG, JDC.Minor
- Mar 10Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
- Vote recorded Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 6Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1175-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
- Mar 6Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
- Feb 26The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Cochran.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 24Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Thursday, 02-26-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Feb 13Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 265-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
- Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 13Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Chun, Kong, Kusch excused (3).Minor
- Feb 10The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Miyake, Evslin, Grandinetti, Kitagawa, La Chica, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.Minor
- Vote recorded The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 6Bill scheduled to be heard by TRN on Tuesday, 02-10-26 8:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Jan 28Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 3Minor
- Jan 26Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
- Jan 23Pending introduction.Introduced
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