HB 715 defines a new category of “personal electric vehicles” (PEVs) in New Hampshire law and sets out rules for their operation, education, and treatment under vehicle statutes. The bill covers devices such as electric scooters, unicycles, skateboards, hoverboards, Segways, Onewheels, and electric skates, while expressly excluding electric bicycles. It also revises the definition of “motor-driven cycle” to clarify that electric bicycles are not included in that category.
The bill requires certain PEV operators age 16 and older who do not hold a driver’s license to complete an online DMV-developed safety course before operating a PEV, and to carry proof of completion. It directs retail dealers to post signage and inform customers about device classification and lawful areas of use, prohibits dealers from modifying speed limiters on true e-bikes, and creates a $50 penalty for noncompliance with the education provisions. The bill also establishes speed and safety rules for PEV use on sidewalks, trails, and public ways, including a 5 mph limit on sidewalks and walking trails, an 18 mph limit on rail, hiking, and bicycle trails, helmet requirements for operators under 16 on public property, and reflective outerwear requirements at night.
HB 715 further addresses registration and tax treatment by stating that a typical vehicle registration system is impractical for PEVs and substituting a DMV safety exam and certificate for registration in some cases. It exempts personal electric vehicles that are otherwise subject to motor vehicle registration from the $100 electric vehicle registration surcharge applied to full-size electric cars and trucks, and adds PEVs to the list of vehicles exempt from registration under RSA 261:3. The bill takes effect 60 days after passage.
The fiscal note says the state impact is indeterminable but likely includes some upfront DMV costs to create the online safety course, with possible offsetting revenue if the DMV charges a fee. The Department of Safety also notes that revenue from any fees would flow to the Highway Fund, but the amount cannot be estimated because participation and fee levels are unknown. Overall, the bill appears aimed at bringing clearer regulation and safety standards to a growing class of micromobility devices while avoiding a full traditional registration regime.
Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no documented public debate or formal vote history to gauge sentiment. Based on the bill text and fiscal note, the measure appears generally regulatory and safety-oriented rather than punitive, with its main policy emphasis on defining PEVs, educating users, and setting operating limits. Potential points of contention likely include whether the DMV course and proof-of-completion requirement are burdensome, whether the speed and helmet rules are appropriate, and whether the registration and surcharge exemptions treat PEVs consistently with other motorized vehicles.
The bill would amend RSA 259, RSA 261, RSA 263, and RSA 265 to create a statutory definition of personal electric vehicles, establish education and safety requirements for operators, set operating speed limits and protective gear rules, and exempt certain PEVs from standard registration and electric vehicle surcharge provisions. It would also clarify the treatment of electric bicycles by excluding them from the new PEV definition and from the revised motor-driven cycle definition, while adding PEVs to the list of registration exemptions in RSA 261:3.
No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no direct evidence of legislative debate or recorded support/opposition. The bill’s framing suggests a generally favorable, pragmatic sentiment focused on safety and regulatory clarity for emerging micromobility devices, with the fiscal note reflecting administrative caution rather than policy opposition. The absence of recorded controversy makes it difficult to identify a formal partisan or stakeholder split.
The most likely points of contention are the scope of the new PEV definition, the requirement that unlicensed operators over 16 complete an online DMV safety course, and the enforcement of speed, helmet, and reflective-gear rules. Retail dealer obligations and the prohibition on modifying e-bike speed limiters may also draw concern from sellers or riders. Another possible dispute is the bill’s decision to exempt PEVs from the $100 electric vehicle registration surcharge and from traditional registration, which could be viewed either as appropriate recognition of their size and use or as inconsistent treatment compared with other motorized vehicles.