HB 343 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Helmets; wearing whenever riding/carried on skateboard or scooter or nonmotorized scooter.

Summary

Helmets; local authority. Permits localities to adopt ordinances requiring children 14 years of age or younger to wear protective helmets whenever riding or being carried on a motorized skateboard or scooter or a nonmotorized scooter. Current law authorizes localities to adopt such ordinances for riders of bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, toy vehicles, and electric power-assisted bicycles.

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House of Delegates Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Signed Apr 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled → Chaptered · 1 edit

MINOR

The bill has transitioned from its approved legislative status to its final enacted form as Chapter 114 of the 2026 Virginia Acts. The substantive policy regarding bicycle helmet laws for riders under 14 remains unchanged, with only formatting adjustments made to match the official state code style.

TECHNICAL

The text was reformatted to include official chapter numbering, approval dates, and proper line breaks consistent with the Virginia Code style.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 2, 2026 · House of Delegates Jan 28, 2026

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 39

Mar 2, 2026

D Democratic20

19 Yea 1

95% Yea

R Republican19

19 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 6, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor-Chapter 114 (effective 7/1/2026)

executive

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Signed by President

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Signed by Speaker

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB343ER)

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate (21-Y 19-N 0-A)

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed by for the day (Voice Vote)

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate committee offered

upper

Feb 26, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Transportation (8-Y 4-N 1-A)

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Transportation

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time and passed House (75-Y 22-N 0-A)

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Transportation (21-Y 0-N)

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

Subcommittee recommends reporting (9-Y 0-N)

lower

Jan 19, 2026

Committee

Assigned HTRAN sub: Highway Safety and Policy

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to Committee on Transportation

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors