Committee adopts amendment to driver‑education bill to add pedestrian and motorcycle safety; substitute advances unanimously

The House Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education on Wednesday adopted an amendment to House Bill 21‑95 that narrows language from “training” to “instruction” and explicitly adds pedestrian and motorcycle safety to a proposed safe‑driving program for participating schools. Chair Ed Lewis moved the substitute after the committee entered executive session to consider the change.

The ranking member introduced the amendment, saying testimony at an earlier hearing had recommended removing the word “training” and including reminders about pedestrian safety and material specific to motorcycle riders. “Some of the people that testified talked about pedestrian safety in our state and how that's concerning levels,” the ranking member said, and argued the program should remind students about those risks.

The committee adopted the amendment and rolled it into a new substitute. On a roll call the committee voted the House Committee substitute do pass by a unanimous tally of 18 ayes and 0 nos.

The chair and several members emphasized the substitute does not mandate schools to offer driver instruction; it creates a mechanism for districts that choose to provide such courses. Representative Boyko asked for clarity after press coverage suggested the bill would require districts to offer driver instruction; the chair and sponsor said that is not in the bill.

The committee advanced the substitute to the next stage; no additional floor amendments were recorded during the committee session.

Next steps: the bill will proceed according to the House rules for committee bills.