HB 706 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO HIGHWAY SAFETY.

HB 706 requires all skateboard riders under 16 years old to wear a helmet while operating a skateboard. This law directly affects minors who skateboard for recreation or transportation, mandating helmet use to promote safety. The bill takes effect on January 1, 3000, as specified in the official abstract. It does not include additional enforcement mechanisms or exceptions beyond the helmet requirement for the specified age group.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Apr 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB706_HD1 → HB706_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended from the House version to the Senate version, primarily updating metadata, formatting, and the effective date of the law. The most significant substantive change is the revision of the effective date from July 1, 3000, to January 1, 3000, which alters when the new helmet requirement for skateboard users begins enforcement.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains focused on requiring skateboard users under sixteen to wear helmets, but the timeline for enforcement has shifted to an earlier date.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 3000, to January 1, 3000, meaning the helmet mandate will now begin six months earlier than originally drafted.

TECHNICAL

The bill version was updated from House Draft 1 (HD1) to Senate Draft 1 (SD1), and associated metadata such as author names, revision numbers, and file identifiers were updated to reflect the Senate's handling of the legislation.

The language describing the effective date within the explanatory text was updated to match the new January 1, 3000, date, changing the reference from 'Effective' to 'Takes effect'.

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 17, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to TRS, JDC.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 666) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Keohokalole, McKelvey. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee on JDC reconsidered its previous decision.

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) San Buenaventura.

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-27-25 10:40AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-25-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1319) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.

upper

Mar 18, 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

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to TCA, JDC.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 271).

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka voting no (2) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 20, 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; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 376) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Cochran, Evslin, Kitagawa, La Chica, Miyake, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors