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Senate committee adopts amendment requiring under‑16 UTV passengers to wear seat belts
Summary
A Senate committee adopted an amendment to House Bill 13 that requires riders under age 16 in utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) to be wearing a seat belt rather than relying on a helmet; the amendment was adopted by voice vote and the bill was returned from the committee as amended without recommendation.
Senator Jessica Bernd, speaking as the amendment sponsor in the committee of the whole, won approval for a change to House Bill 13 that requires anyone under age 16 riding in a utility terrain vehicle to be wearing a seat belt rather than relying on a helmet.
The amendment, which Bernd said was provided by sheriffs, was adopted by voice vote in the committee. Committee members then approved a correction to the bill title and voted to return House Bill 13 to the Senate calendar as amended and without recommendation.
The amendment’s sponsor said the change is straightforward and aimed at clarifying safety requirements for young UTV riders. "This is ... an amendment that requires anyone under the age of 16 that is riding in a UTV, not only to have a seat belt, but also this amendment states that they have to be actually wearing the seat belt," Senator Bernd said during debate.
There was no recorded opposition during the committee’s discussion on the amendment. After adoption, the committee agreed that the bill should be returned as amended without recommendation and the title correction was adopted. No roll-call vote tally was recorded in the transcript; outcomes were announced by voice.
House Bill 13, as amended, was filed for second-reading calendar placement by the Senate secretary.
Next steps: House Bill 13 will be referred to the Senate second reading calendar for further consideration on the floor.
