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Committee advances bill to define and regulate motorized scooters on Montana roads
Summary
House Bill 588, which creates statutory definitions and operating rules for motorized scooters and related devices, passed the Transportation Committee unanimously; sponsors and DOT staff flagged minor drafting issues (lights and device classification) to be addressed in amendments.
The House Transportation Committee voted unanimously to report House Bill 588 do pass after a hearing that defined motorized scooters and proposed where they may be operated.
Chair Durham, sponsor of HB588, said the bill aims to update Montana law to include evolving micromobility devices — including one‑wheel electric devices with no seat — and to authorize their use on roadways and bike paths where bicycles and mopeds are permitted. The bill sets equipment and safety expectations (for example, lighting requirements at dawn/dusk/night) and separates these devices from existing motor‑driven cycles and mopeds.
Committee members asked technical questions about classifications, whether seated electric scooters or higher‑speed scooters would be covered, and how requirements would apply to devices without fixed mounting points for lamps. DOT deputy director Larry Flynn and bill drafters provided informational answers and suggested small drafting fixes, including allowing a headlamp on an operator to satisfy lighting rules.
Sponsors and several members indicated they expected minor amendments before floor consideration to clarify lamp placement and to harmonize the bill with forthcoming Senate language on electric bicycle classification. The bill was reported do pass by unanimous roll call and will move to the House floor.
