Governor gets bill on scooter firms

The Senate on Wednesday sent the governor legislation that would allow for rules and regulations on scooter-share companies that have popped up in Arkansas.

The Senate voted 35-0 to approve House Bill 1619 by Rep. Grant Hodges, R-Rogers. It is nearly identical to a bill sponsored by Hodges that the House passed Friday.

The only difference between the bills is that HB1619 gives additional leeway to municipalities and counties to enact their own local rules for the electric scooters. Hodges told the House on Monday that the update was due to late agreements between the scooter companies and the Arkansas Municipal League.

The bill would set a 15 mph speed limit on electric motorized scooters and a minimum rider age of 16.

[RELATED: Complete Democrat-Gazette coverage of the Arkansas Legislature]

It would require scooter-share operators to have commercial general liability insurance with a limit of at least $1 million for each occurrence and $5 million in total; umbrella or excess liability coverage with a limit of at least $5 million for each occurrence; and $5 million in total and workers’ compensation coverage as required by the law.

The bill would allow local authority to establish reasonable standards, rules or regulations providing for the safe operation of electric motorized scooters, and the presence of electric motorized scooters on public property.

— Michael R. Wickline

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