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Senate committee adopts scooter regulations and insurance minimums, preserves city authority
Summary
Senators passed House Bill 19 82, with a municipal-league amendment, defining electric motorized scooters, setting operational limits (15 mph operational cap; 16+ via app verification), minimum insurance requirements, and explicitly preserving municipal authority to regulate launches and ordinances; industry and municipal representatives said the changes strike a balance between safety and local control.
The Senate committee passed House Bill 19 82 as amended to provide a statewide definition and baseline requirements for shared electric scooters while preserving local control over operations and enforcement.
Senator Brianne Davis presented the amendment and said the language had been agreed with the municipal league and industry partners. Industry representative Bill Stovall, representing Bird, explained the bill defines the electric motorized scooter, sets a 20 mph definition ceiling and a 15 mph operational safety limit, and recommends a minimum rider age of 16 enforced through app-based verification. The bill also sets minimum insurance requirements for operators.
Witnesses described operational safeguards that companies already use: photo verification of proper parking, technology-enabled monitoring of scooters that are tipped or improperly parked, nightly retrieval and charging crews, and the ability to deploy scooters in small nests. Panelists said cities retain the authority to regulate launch methods, require RFPs or exclusive arrangements, and set additional safety or enforcement requirements by ordinance.
Committee members pressed presenters about dockless parking problems and how cities (Little Rock, Russellville) plan to enforce protections and insurance requirements. Presenters acknowledged problems in earlier exclusive launches and said cities are taking nonexclusive approaches and using RFPs and ordinances to manage operations. The committee approved the amended bill by voice vote (motion by Senator Davis; second by Senator Pitch).
