March 4, 2011 

Vice Chairman Hart testified before the Nebraska Senate Transportation and Telecommunications Committee in Lincoln, NE, on February 14, 2011, to oppose legislation that would weaken the state’s universal helmet law. The current law requires that all motorcycle riders wear a DOT-certified helmet. The proposal before the committee would reduce that requirement to riders under the age of 21, unless they take a state-developed training course and meet a minimum insurance requirement specific to motorcyclists.

The Vice Chairman’s testimony was well-received. Furthermore, his one-on-one discussions with Governor Heineman and several of the committee’s members helped to build a majority on the committee favoring holding the line against the repeal efforts. Because of this majority, the bill is being held in committee and will remain there unless the committee advances the bill to the full legislature before March 10 and a member places a “priority” on it. Additional NTSB efforts may be warranted on this, however, because even if the bill does not advance before March 10, it will remain in committee and be carried over to the 2012 session of the legislature.