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House adopts clarifying amendments to golf‑cart bill and extends special event allowance
Summary
Lawmakers amended and advanced House Bill 4688 to clarify that seat‑belt requirements for children 12 and under do not apply to golf carts operated on golf courses and to allow golf carts along roads near Division I events and certain large arenas; the amendments were adopted and the bill advanced to second reading.
The House adopted several amendments to House Bill 4688, a cleanup measure affecting a prior "golf cart" provision.
Representative Hartnett explained that the bill clarifies seat‑belt requirements: the seat‑belt rule for children 12 and younger would not apply to golf carts operated on golf courses. He said the change does not affect seat‑belt requirements for golf carts or low‑speed vehicles when used on public roads.
Representative Wooten explained a subsequent amendment extending the exception to arenas or coliseums that hold at least 19,000 people and to certain Division I athletic events in a defined time window (three hours before and one hour after the event). Both amendments were adopted on the floor, and the bill received a recorded second reading tabulated in the transcript as 109‑0.
Supporters argued the changes reduce compliance burdens for courses and allow event logistics flexibility around major collegiate events; members asked clarifying questions about passenger age limits and applicability on public roads.
