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Parents introduce scooter-safety bill after son’s fatal crash; committee accepts RS 2643
Summary
Ryan and Monica Omert testified to the Committee on Transportation and introduced RS 2643, a bill that would require helmets for riders 17 and younger, ban operation by children 13 and under, and cap electric-assisted scooter speeds at 15 mph; the committee formally introduced the bill without objection.
Diane Williams, director of vehicles, and the Committee on Transportation heard emotional testimony and a bill introduction from Ryan and Monica Omert, who described the death of their son Duke and asked the committee to act on scooter safety. "He's my son," Monica Omert said as she recounted arriving at the scene and being told by first responders, "I don't know, ma'am." The Omerts asked lawmakers to consider new requirements to protect children.
The Omerts introduced RS 2643, "an act concerning traffic regulations relating to electric assisted scooters and electric assisted bicycles," which the sponsor described as requiring anyone 17 years of age and younger to wear a helmet, prohibiting operation by those 13 and under, modifying the definition of electric-assisted scooter with certain specifications and a maximum operating speed of 15 miles per hour, and amending multiple KSA provisions referenced by the sponsor. Chair recorded the introduction after asking if there was any objection: "If not, the bill is introduced." The committee did not take a vote on the bill’s substance at the hearing.
Why it matters: The measure would change state traffic rules for personal electric vehicles, set age and equipment limits for youth riders, and create enforceable speed and equipment standards that could affect manufacturers, local enforcement and families. The Omerts’ personal testimony framed the bill as a public-safety response to a child’s death.
Details and next steps: The bill text presented by the sponsor cites changes to statutory sections the sponsor identified during the introduction. Committee staff asked for sponsor/sponsorship details to be confirmed for the record. The committee did not schedule floor action during the hearing; the chair noted only that the bill was accepted as introduced. Staff and sponsors indicated they would provide any additional sponsorship information and technical drafting details to the committee.
Stakeholder reactions and context: Committee members expressed condolences and the committee chair asked staff to capture sponsorship information. No formal opposition or amendment was recorded during the introduction. If the bill advances, future committee hearings will address technical definitions, enforcement mechanisms and any fiscal notes.
The committee accepted the introduction of RS 2643 and did not take a formal vote on the bill’s policy content during the session. The committee proceeded to other business.
