Assembly BillIntroduced
A 8959: Requires anyone under age sixteen who is riding upon, propelling or otherwise operating an electric scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, or bicycle with electric assist or is a passenger on such electric scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, or bicycle with electric assist to wear approved protective headwear.
What A 8959 does, verified January 8, 2026
The proposed law requires individuals under the age of 16 to wear protective headgear while riding certain electric vehicles, such as scooters, personal assistive mobility devices, and bicycles with electric assist. The helmet must meet standards established by the commissioner and be fitted securely on the head with straps fastened. This law aims to increase safety for young riders. The law will take effect 30 days after it becomes a law.
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: referred to transportation (2026-01-07)Alert me
Quick answers about A 8959
- What is the current status of A 8959?
- As of January 8, 2026, A 8959 is recorded as "Introduced": it has been introduced and is waiting for its first committee hearing or floor vote. The last recorded action, on January 7, 2026, was "referred to transportation".
- Did A 8959 pass?
- Not yet. A 8959 has been introduced and has not passed either house.
- Who wrote A 8959, and where is it now?
- A 8959 was authored by Asm. Clyde Vanel. Its committee of record is Assembly Transportation.
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions2 total · showing 2
| Jan. 07, 2026 | referred to transportation |
| Aug. 13, 2025 | referred to transportation |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, August 13, 2025 · 278 words
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 8959 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY August 13, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. VANEL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to protective headwear requirements The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The section heading and subdivision 1 of section 1286 of 2 the vehicle and traffic law, as added by section 10 of part XX of chap- 3 ter 58 of the laws of 2020, are amended to read as follows: 4 Operators and passengers to wear protective headgear. 1. No person 5 under the age of sixteen [or seventeen years of age] shall ride upon, 6 propel or otherwise operate an electric scooter, electric personal 7 assistive mobility device, or bicycle with electric assist or be a 8 passenger on such electric scooter, electric personal assistive mobility 9 device, or bicycle with electric assist unless such person is wearing a 10 helmet meeting standards established by the commissioner pursuant to the 11 provisions of subdivision two-a of section twelve hundred thirty-eight 12 of this title. As used in this subdivision, wearing a helmet means 13 having a properly fitting helmet fixed securely on the head of such 14 wearer with the helmet straps securely fastened. 15 § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall 16 have become a law. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD13588-01-5
Text of A 8959 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions