Amends existing law to provide for human-powered vehicles, bicycles, and electric-assisted bicycles.

LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE BILL NO. 500 BY JUDICIARY, RULES AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE AN ACT1 RELATING TO MOTOR VEHICLES; AMENDING SECTION 49-615, IDAHO CODE, TO RE-2 VISE PROVISIONS REGARDING THE EXERCISE OF DUE CARE; AMENDING SECTION3 49-714, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR ELECTRIC-ASSISTED BICYCLES; AMEND-4 ING SECTION 49-715, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE FOR HUMAN-POWERED VEHICLES,5 BICYCLES, AND ELECTRIC-ASSISTED BICYCLES AND TO MAKE A TECHNICAL COR-6 RECTION; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.7

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:8

SECTION 1. That Section 49-615, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby9 amended to read as follows:10 49-615. DRIVERS TO EXERCISE DUE CARE. Notwithstanding other provi-11 sions of this title or the provisions of any local ordinance, every driver of12 a motor vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedes-13 trian or any person propelling operator or rider of a human-powered vehicle,14 bicycle, or electric-assisted bicycle and shall give an audible signal when15 necessary. Every driver of a motor vehicle shall exercise proper precaution16 upon observing any child or any obviously confused, incapacitated, or intox-17 icated person.18

SECTION 2. That Section 49-714, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby19 amended to read as follows:20 49-714. TRAFFIC LAWS APPLY TO PERSONS ON BICYCLES AND OTHER HUMAN-POW-21 ERED VEHICLES OPERATORS OR RIDERS OF HUMAN-POWERED VEHICLES, BICYCLES, OR22 ELECTRIC-ASSISTED BICYCLES -- DUE CARE. (1) Every person operating a vehi-23 cle propelled by human power or riding a bicycle Every operator or rider of a24 human-powered vehicle, bicycle, or electric-assisted bicycle shall have all25 of the rights and all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other ve-26 hicle under the provisions of chapters 6 and 8 of this title, except as oth-27 erwise provided in this chapter and except as to those provisions which by28 their nature can have no application.29 (2) Every operator or rider of a bicycle or human-powered vehicle30 human-powered vehicle, bicycle, or electric-assisted bicycle shall exer-31 cise due care.32

SECTION 3. That Section 49-715, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby33 amended to read as follows:34 49-715. RIDING ON BICYCLES HUMAN-POWERED VEHICLES, BICYCLES, OR ELEC-35 TRIC-ASSISTED BICYCLES. (1) A person propelling a bicycle shall not No oper-36 ator or rider of a human-powered vehicle, bicycle, or electric-assisted bi-37 cycle shall ride other than upon on or astride an attached permanent and reg-38 ular seat.39

2 (2) No bicycle or human-propelled vehicle human-powered vehicle, bicy-1 cle, or electric-assisted bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one2 (1) time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.3 (3) An adult rider may carry a child securely attached to his person in a4 backpack or sling or in a child carrier attached to the bicycle a human-pow-5 ered vehicle, bicycle, or electric-assisted bicycle.6

SECTION 4. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby7 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after8 July 1, 2026.9