HB 1079 — Drive Motorcycle Written Permission

SecondNOTE: Regular Session Seventy-fifth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO REREVISED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted in the Second House LLS NO.

26-0601.01This Jerybill Paynehas x2157been HOUSEprepared BILLfor 26-1079the HOUSEsignatures SPONSORSHIPof BradleyandBoesenecker,the Bacon,Barron,Bottoms,Bradfield,Brooks,Brown,Caldwell,appropriate Camacho,legislative Carter,officers Clifford,and DeGraaf,the Duran,Governor. English, Espenoza, Feret, Flanell, Froelich, Garcia, Garcia Sander, Gilchrist, Goldstein, Gonzalez R., Hamrick, Hartsook, Jackson, Johnson,Joseph,Keltie,Lieder,Lindsay,Luck,Lukens,Mabrey,Marshall,Martinez,Mauro, McCluskie, McCormick, Nguyen, Paschal, Phillips, Richardson, Rutinel, Rydin, Sirota, Slaugh, Smith, Soper, Stewart K., Stewart R., Story, Suckla, Taggart, Titone, Valdez, Velasco, Weinberg, Willford, Winter T., Woodrow, Woog, Zokaie SENATE SPONSORSHIP Bright, Coleman, Cutter, Exum, Hinrichsen, Jodeh, Kipp, Kolker, Marchman, Roberts d d e m 2 T n 2 A U 7 E i ir House Committees Senate Committees S a p Transportation, Housing & Local Government Transportation & Energy e A d d A BILL FOR AN ACT d e 6 C ONCERNING A REQUIREMENT THAT A MINOR HAVE WRITTEN E a 0 A U , N n i PERMISSION TO OBTAIN AN INSTRUCTION PERMIT TO DRIVE A S d p e A MOTORCYCLE .

dTo Billdetermine Summarywhether gthe (Note:Governor has signed the bill or taken other action on it, please consult the legislative status sheet, the legislative history, or the Session Laws.

ThisHOUSE summaryBILL applies26-1079 toBY thisREPRESENTATIVE(S) billBradley asand introducedBoesenecker, andBacon, doesBarron, iBottoms, notreflectanyamendmentsthatmaybesubsequentlyadopted.IfthisbillBradfield, aBrooks, 2Brown, ECaldwell, RCamacho, 2Carter, passesClifford, thirdDeGraaf, readingDuran, inEnglish, theEspenoza, houseFeret, ofFlanell, introduction,Froelich, aGarcia, billGarcia summarySander, thatGilchrist, SGoldstein, rGonzalez 3,R., appliesHamrick, toHartsook, theJackson, reengrossedJohnson, versionJoseph, ofKeltie, thisLieder, billLindsay, willLuck, beLukens, availableMabrey, atMarshall, OMartinez, 3Mauro, hMcCormick, HNguyen, ePaschal, rPhillips, http://leg.colorado.gov.)Richardson, nRutinel, aRydin, eSirota, MSlaugh, ASmith, Thebillrequiresaminortohavewrittenpermissionoftheminor'sSoper, parentStewart orK., legalStewart guardianR., toStory, obtainSuckla, anTaggart, instructionTitone, permitValdez, toVelasco, driveWeinberg, aWillford, motorcycle.Winter T., Woodrow, Woog, Zokaie, McCluskie;

ThealsoSENATOR(S)Bright,Cutter,Exum,Hinrichsen,Jodeh,Kipp,Kolker, billMarchman, doesRoberts, notColeman. apply to foster children or emancipated g minors.

iCONCERNINGAREQUIREMENTTHATAMINORHAVEWRITTENPERMISSIONTO 62OBTAIN aAN 2INSTRUCTION SPERMIT RTO 2DRIVE UA dMOTORCYCLE 1. H 2 c Shading denotes HOUSE amendment.

DoubleBe underliningit denotesenacted SENATEby amendment.the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

e a Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.n M Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.

e A Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

Legislativedeclaration.(1)Legislative Thegeneralassemblydeclaration. finds and declares that:

(a)(1) MotorcyclesThe inherentlygeneral provideassembly significantlyfinds less occupant protection than passenger motor vehicles, leaving operators and passengersdeclares fullythat: exposed to impact forces in the event of a crash, loss of control, or roadway hazard;

(b)Capital Inletters 2024,or thebold state& ofitalic Coloradonumbers recordedindicate 165new motorcyclematerial fatalities,added whichto isexisting thelaw; highest number of motorcycle deaths in state history and represents a 57% increase since 2015;

(c)dashes Inthrough 2024,words motorcycleor fatalitiesnumbers accountedindicate fordeletions approximatelyfrom 24%existing oflaw alland trafficsuch fatalitiesmaterial inis Colorado,not despitepart motorcycles comprising only approximately 3% of registeredthe vehiclesact. statewide, demonstrating a disproportionate risk of death associated with motorcycle operation;

(a) Motorcycles inherently provide significantly less occupant protectionthanpassengermotorvehicles,leavingoperatorsandpassengers fully exposed to impact forces in the event of a crash, loss of control, or roadway hazard;

(b) In2024,thestateofColoradorecorded165motorcyclefatalities, which is the highest number of motorcycle deaths in state history and represents a 57% increase since 2015;

(c) In2024,motorcyclefatalitiesaccountedforapproximately24% of all traffic fatalities in Colorado, despite motorcycles comprising only approximately 3% of registered vehicles statewide, demonstrating a disproportionate risk of death associated with motorcycle operation;

(e) MinorsMinorsareparticularlyvulnerabletomotorcycle-relatedinjuries areand particularlyfatalities vulnerabledue to motorcycle-relatedongoing injuriesandfatalitiesduetoongoingphysical,neurological,andcognitivephysical, development,includinglimitationsinhazardrecognition,riskassessment,neurological, and cognitive development, including limitations in hazard recognition, risk assessment, judgment, and reaction time;

(f) ColoradolawcurrentlyrecognizestheheightenedvulnerabilityColorado oflaw minorscurrently byrecognizes requiringthe helmetheightened usevulnerability of minors byrequiringhelmetuse for motorcycle operators and passengersunder18yearsold;however,protectiveequipmentalonedoespassengers -2-under 107918 notyears sufficientlyold; mitigate the inherent risks of motorcycle operation by minors;

(g)however, Aprotective substantialequipment numberalone ofdoes motorcycle fatalities in Colorado involve riders not wearingsufficiently helmets,mitigate and,the eveninherent whenrisks helmetsof aremotorcycle worn,operation minorsremainatelevatedriskduetotheabsenceofstructuralprotectionsby onminors; motorcycles;

(h)(g) Colorado'shigh-speedroadways,mountainousterrain,variableA weatherconditions,andincreasingtrafficcongestionfurtherincreasethesubstantial dangersassociatedwithmotorcycleoperation,particularlyforyoungandnumber inexperiencedof riders;motorcycle fatalities in Colorado involve riders not wearing helmets, and, even when helmets are worn, minors remain at elevated risk due to the absence of structural protections on motorcycles;

(i)(h) PermittingColorado's minorshigh-speed toroadways, obtainmountainous motorcycleterrain, endorsementsvariable orweather operatemotorcyclesbasedsolelyonconsentfromanyindividualover21conditions, yearsand oldincreasing doestraffic notcongestion adequatelyfurther ensureincrease responsiblethe oversight,dangers informedassociated decision-making,with ormotorcycle appropriateoperation, evaluationparticularly offor ayoung minor'sand readinessinexperienced toriders; safely operate a motorcycle;

(i) Permittingminorstoobtainmotorcycleendorsementsoroperate PAGE 2-HOUSE BILL 26-1079 motorcycles based solelyon consent from anyindividual over 21 years old does not adequately ensure responsible oversight, informed decision-making, or appropriate evaluation of a minor's readiness to safely operate a motorcycle;

(II) AlignsmotorcycleendorsementrequirementswithColorado'sAligns motorcycle endorsement requirements with Colorado's existing youth safety frameworks;

(k) Motorcycle-related injuries and fatalities involving minors impose significant emotional and financial burdens on families and substantial costs to the state through emergency medical response, long-termmedicalcare,rehabilitation,anddisabilitysupportservices;andlong-term (l)medical Thecare, staterehabilitation, of Colorado has a compelling interest in protecting -3- 1079 the health, safety, and welfaredisabilitysupport ofservices; minors and, in high-risk activities, has long exercised its authority to impose age-based safety requirements, including graduated driver licensing systems and child passenger safety laws.

(2)and Therefore,(l) theThe generalstate assemblyof declaresColorado thathas ita iscompelling necessaryinterest in protecting the health, safety, and appropriatewelfare toof enactminors legislationand, regulatingin motorcyclehigh-risk operationactivities, andhas endorsementeligibilityinvolvinglong minors,exercised includingits consentauthority andtrainingto impose age-based safety requirements, inincluding ordergraduated todriver protectlicensing Colorado'ssystems youth.and child passenger safety laws.

(2) Therefore,thegeneralassemblydeclaresthatitisnecessaryand appropriate to enact legislation regulating motorcycle operation and endorsement eligibility involving minors, including consent and training requirements, in order to protect Colorado's youth.

InstructionInstructionpermitsandtemporary permitslicenses-penalty. and temporary licenses - penalty.

(1)(1)(f) (f)NOTWITHSTANDINGSUBSECTION NTWITHSTANDING(1)(a)OFTHISSECTION SUBSECTION,THE (1)(aOF THIS SECTIO, THE DEPARTMENT SHALLNOTSHALL NOT ISSUE AN INSTRUCTION PERMIT TO A MINOR WHO ISISUNDEREIGHTEENYEARSOLDTODRIVEAMOTORCYCLEUNLESSTHEMINOR UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD TO DRIVE A MOTORCYCLE UNLESS THE MINOR HAS WRITTEN PERMISSION OFOFTHE THEMINOR MINOSS PARENT ORORLEGALGUARDIAN LEGALTO GUARDIANPAGE TO3-HOUSE BILL 26-1079 DRIVE A MOTORCYCLE .

Act subject to petition - effective date - applicability.(1)applicability. Thisacttakeseffectat12:01a.m.onthedayfollowing the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the generalassembly(August12,2026,ifadjournmentsinedieisonMay13, 2026);

except(1) that,This if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3)ofarticleVofthestateconstitutionagainstthisactoranitem,section, or part of this act withintakes such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless approved bythe people at the12:01 generala.m. election -4- 1079 to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.

(2)on Thisthe actday appliesfollowing tothe applicationsexpiration forof instructionthe permitsninety-day submittedperiod after final adjournment of the general assembly (August 12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026);exceptthat,if areferendumpetitionisfiledpursuanttosection1(3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or afteran item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the applicableact, effectiveitem, section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be heldinNovember2026and,insuchcase, will take effect on the date of thisthe act.official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.

-5-PAGE 10794-HOUSE BILL 26-1079 (2) Thisactappliestoapplicationsforinstructionpermitssubmitted on or after the applicable effective date of this act.

____________________________ ____________________________ Julie McCluskie James Rashad Coleman, Sr.

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PRESIDENT OF OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE ____________________________ ____________________________ Vanessa Reilly Esther van Mourik CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE SECRETARY OF OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE APPROVED________________________________________ (Date and Time) _________________________________________ Jared S.

Polis GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF COLORADO PAGE 5-HOUSE BILL 26-1079