Assembly Bill A8959

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Relates to protective headwear requirements

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Assembly Committee

  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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2025-A8959 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Assembly Transportation
Law Section:
Vehicle and Traffic Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §1286, V & T L

2025-A8959 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires anyone under age sixteen who is riding upon, propelling or otherwise operating an electric scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, or bicycle with electric assist or is a passenger on such electric scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, or bicycle with electric assist to wear approved protective headwear.

2025-A8959 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8959
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              August 13, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. VANEL -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation  to  protective
   headwear requirements
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. The section heading and subdivision 1 of  section  1286  of
 the  vehicle and traffic law, as added by section 10 of part XX of chap-
 ter 58 of the laws of 2020, are amended to read as follows:
   Operators AND PASSENGERS to wear protective  headgear.  1.  No  person
 UNDER  THE  AGE  OF sixteen [or seventeen years of age] shall ride upon,
 propel or otherwise  operate  an  electric  scooter,  ELECTRIC  PERSONAL
 ASSISTIVE  MOBILITY  DEVICE,  OR  BICYCLE  WITH  ELECTRIC ASSIST OR BE A
 PASSENGER ON SUCH ELECTRIC SCOOTER, ELECTRIC PERSONAL ASSISTIVE MOBILITY
 DEVICE, OR BICYCLE WITH ELECTRIC ASSIST unless such person is wearing  a
 helmet meeting standards established by the commissioner pursuant to the
 provisions  of  subdivision two-a of section twelve hundred thirty-eight
 of this title.   As used in this subdivision,  wearing  a  helmet  means
 having  a  properly  fitting  helmet  fixed securely on the head of such
 wearer with the helmet straps securely fastened.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13588-01-5

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