Delaware · Senate Bill 86 · 152nd General Assembly

Motorcycle/Operation of/Helmet and Eye Protection Use/Requirements

  1. Introduced Apr 19, 2023
  2. In committee Apr 19, 2023
  3. Passed the Senate May 11, 2023
  4. Passed the House Jun 6, 2023
  5. To the governor  
  6. Became law Jun 30, 2023

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

Currently, every adult operating or riding as a passenger on a motorcycle is required to have a helmet in their possession and wear eye protection while operating or riding a motorcycle and every person up to 19 years of age must wear a helmet and eye protection. This Act requires that everyone who obtains a new endorsement for a motorcycle on or after the effective date of this Act, or someone riding with the newly…

Read the full title (247 words)

Currently, every adult operating or riding as a passenger on a motorcycle is required to have a helmet in their possession and wear eye protection while operating or riding a motorcycle and every person up to 19 years of age must wear a helmet and eye protection. This Act requires that everyone who obtains a new endorsement for a motorcycle on or after the effective date of this Act, or someone riding with the newly endorsed person, to wear a helmet and eye protection for the first 2 years after the newly endorsed person receives the endorsement. In 2022, Delaware experienced 10 motorcycle fatalities where the rider was not wearing a helmet. Over the last 5 years, among crashes involving a Delaware licensed motorcycle rider, 25% of fatal and serious injury crashes involved a rider in their first 2 years of having a motorcycle endorsement. Helmets and eye protection are already required for those operating with a temporary motorcycle instruction permit as required under § 2703 of Title 21 of the Delaware Code and no passengers are allowed. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia currently require all motorcyclists to wear a helmet. According to research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, helmets are highly effective in protecting motorcycle riders’ heads in crashes and significantly reduce deaths and serious head injuries in crashes. This Act creates a civil penalty for violation of the helmet law, both the existing law and the law created by this Act.

Every action

7 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

  1. CommitteeIntroduced and Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate · Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation
  2. CommitteeReported Out of Committee (Environment, Energy & Transportation) in Senate with 7 On Its Merits · Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation
  3. SenatePassed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT20–0 vote
  4. CommitteeAssigned to Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee in House · House Public Safety & Homeland Security
  5. CommitteeReported Out of Committee (Public Safety & Homeland Security) in House with 5 On Its Merits · House Public Safety & Homeland Security
  6. HousePassed By House. Votes: 39 YES 2 ABSENT39–0 vote
  7. GovernorSigned by Governor

Roll calls

2 recorded votes: 2 on the floor, 0 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 13 cosponsors: 8 Democrats, 5 Republicans.

All 13 cosponsors

From Delaware's official records (legis.delaware.gov), checked Nov 1, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.