SB 344 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY.

SB 344 requires all skateboard users under 18 years old to wear a helmet when operating a skateboard on public property, such as parks, sidewalks, or streets. This bill directly affects minors who skateboard in public spaces, aiming to reduce head injuries from falls or collisions. The key provision is a mandatory helmet requirement for this age group, with no exemptions specified in the abstract. Note: While the bill title references "highway safety," the actual requirement applies broadly to public property, not specifically highways.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Signed May 29, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB344_HD2 → SB344_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to lower the age requirement for mandatory skateboard helmet use from eighteen to sixteen years old, aligning it with existing bicycle helmet laws for minors. The effective date was also changed from July 1, 3000, to upon approval, making the law immediately enforceable. These changes expand the law's protective scope to cover younger skateboard users who were previously exempt.

Scope change

The bill now applies to skateboard users under sixteen years of age instead of eighteen, expanding the protected group to include younger minors.

ELIGIBILITY

Age requirement for mandatory helmet use changed from eighteen to sixteen years old.

TIMELINE

Effective date changed from July 1, 3000, to upon approval, making the law immediately effective.

TECHNICAL

Removed Senate header information and formatting artifacts from the original HD2 version.

Added SD1 header information and metadata from the Senate version.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Amato voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Pierick voting no (2) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, Keohokalole). Excused, 0 (none).

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 100) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25.

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 100).

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Poepoe, Grandinetti; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Takenouchi, Muraoka.

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

The 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) Lee, C., Rhoads, Elefante; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

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 10:35AM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 576).

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Pierick voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. 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

Committee

Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1317) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to 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 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 139) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 3 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte, McKelvey). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. 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.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 9:45AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Committee

Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 128) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

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: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; 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 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to TCA, JDC.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors