Senate committee approves bill to remove duplicative motorcycle crash reporting

The Senate Transportation, Technology & Legislative Affairs Committee approved House Bill 1235 on a voice vote after its sponsor said the measure removes an outdated motorcycle crash reporting form and prevents dual reporting.

Senator Johnson told the committee the bill is a cleanup measure that eliminates an older, separately referenced motorcycle-report form and relies on the Arkansas State Police’s eCrash accident reporting system instead. “This bill just simply eliminates that dual reporting possibility,” he said.

Major Jason Aaron of the Arkansas State Police, introduced to the committee before the presentation, supported the change. “I’ve been with the Arkansas State Police for 23 years, and I’ve never seen the form that that’s referenced in the statute,” Aaron said, noting the amendment also changes a statutory “shall” to “may” to reflect current practice.

Senator Johnson said the original supplemental motorcycle report was requested in the 1990s by the Federal Highway Safety Commission and was intended for data collection; Representative Dwight Tosh was identified in the hearing record as the lawmaker who requested the earlier reporting. The bill’s supporters said the eCrash system already collects the needed information and that retaining the older form creates a redundant obligation in statute.

There were no questions from committee members and no members of the public signed up to speak for or against the bill. Senator English moved to pass the bill, Senator Hill seconded, and the chair announced the bill had passed by voice vote.

Next steps: With committee approval, House Bill 1235 will continue through the legislative process toward a floor vote.