2011 Senate Bill 291 / 2012 Public Act 98

Allow helmetless motorcycle operation

Introduced in the Senate

March 24, 2011

Introduced by Sen. Phil Pavlov (R-25)

To repeal the mandatory motorcycle helmet requirement for a motorcycle operator who is age 21 or older, and has been riding for at least two years or passes a safety test.

Referred to the Committee on Transportation

June 8, 2011

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the bill pass.

June 28, 2011

Substitute offered by Sen. Morris Hood (D-3)

To adopt a version of the bill with more restrictions on helmetless riding.

The substitute failed 10 to 27 (details)

Amendment offered by Sen. Bert Johnson (D-2)

To make helmetless riding without the mandated insurance a “secondary” violation, meaning that a driver can't not be stopped just for this, but if stopped for some other violation this one could be tacked on.

The amendment failed 11 to 27 (details)

Amendment offered by Sen. Morris Hood (D-3)

To require a helmetless motorcycle operator to have $500,000 worth of personal injury insurance.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Sen. Morris Hood (D-3)

To require the Secretary of State to provide and helmetless motorcycle operators to display a license plate sticker indicating that the operator has bought the insurance mandated by the bill.

The amendment failed 18 to 20 (details)

Amendment offered by Sen. Morris Hood (D-3)

To require motorcycle operators and passengers to wear shatter-resistant glasses or goggles, or else have a windshield on the vehicle or on a helmet.

The amendment failed 16 to 22 (details)

Amendment offered by Sen. Roger Kahn (R-32)

To place a three-year "sunset" on the repeal of the helmetless riding ban, and then do a study to determine "the cost to this state" of helmetless motorcycle rider injuries.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Sen. Roger Kahn (R-32)

To require a helmetless motorcycle operator to have $250,000 worth of personal injury insurance.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Substitute offered by Sen. Phil Pavlov (R-25)

To adopt a version of the bill that mandates a $100,000 insurance policy and inserts a five year sunset on the helmet mandate repeal.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the Senate 24 to 14 (details)

To repeal the mandatory helmet requirement for a motorcycle operator who is age 21 or older, has been riding for at least two years or passes a safety test, and has a personal injury insurance policy providing at least $100,000 in benefits. A sunset provision would cause the ban on helmetless riding to resume in five years.

Received in the House

June 28, 2011

Referred to the Committee on Transportation

Oct. 26, 2011

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Nov. 1, 2011

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance as previously described. See House-passed version for details.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Timothy Bledsoe (D-1)

To require helmetless operators to register with a national organ donor organization.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Joan Bauer (D-68)

To tie-bar the bill to Senate Bill 720, meaning this bill cannot become law unless that one does also. SB 720 would require motorcyclists who don’t wear a helmet to have more insurance than specified in this bill.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Joan Bauer (D-68)

To require the State Police to conduct a study of motorcycle accident injuries depending on helmet use or non-use.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Peter Pettalia (R-106)

To revise technical details of the insurance mandate and other requirements for helmetless riders.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Nov. 2, 2011

Passed in the House 69 to 39 (details)

To repeal the mandatory helmet requirement for a motorcycle operator who is age 21 or older, has been riding for at least two years or passes a safety test, and has a personal injury insurance policy providing at least $20,000 in benefits.

Received in the Senate

Nov. 3, 2011

March 28, 2012

Amendment offered by Sen. Morris Hood (D-3)

To make helmetless riding without the mandated insurance a “secondary” violation, meaning that a driver can't not be stopped just for this, but if stopped for some other violation this one could be tacked on.

The amendment failed 11 to 26 (details)

Amendment offered by Sen. Morris Hood (D-3)

To increase the amount of extra insurance a person would have to buy to not be subject to the helmet mandate. After this vote the Senate reconsidered the amendment, and removed it in an 18-19 vote.

The amendment passed 22 to 15 (details)

Amendment offered by Sen. Vincent Gregory (D-14)

To place a four-year "sunset" on the repeal of the helmetless riding ban, and then do a study to determine "the cost to this state" of helmetless motorcycle rider injuries.

The amendment failed 17 to 20 (details)

Amendment offered

To reconsider the previous vote on the second Hood amendment, which would increase the amount of mandated insurance for helmetless riders.

The amendment passed 19 to 18 (details)

Motion to reconsider by Sen. Arlan Meekhof (R-30)

The vote by which the second Hood amendment was adopted.

The motion passed 26 to 11 (details)

Amendment offered

To increase the amount of extra insurance a person would have to buy to not be subject to the helmet mandate.

The amendment failed 18 to 19 (details)

Passed in the Senate 24 to 14 (details)

To repeal the mandatory helmet requirement for a motorcycle operator who is age 21 or older, has been riding for at least two years or passes a safety test, and has a personal injury insurance policy providing at least $20,000 in benefits.

Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder

April 12, 2012