S. 5274

119 S5274 IS: Ride in Freedom Act
 U.S. Senate
 2026-08-06
 text/xml
 EN
 Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 5274  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   August 6, 2026   Mr. Sheehy  introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs    A BILL
To prohibit the District of Columbia from requiring a person to wear a protective helmet to operate, or ride on, a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Ride in Freedom Act  .
2.
Prohibition on requiring helmet requirement to operate motorcycle in District of Columbia
(a)
In general
The Council of the District of Columbia may not enact, and the Mayor of the District of Columbia may not enforce, any act, resolution, or other requirement that prohibits a person from operating, or riding on, a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle unless wearing a protective helmet.
(b)
Repeal of existing requirement
Section 2215.3 title 18 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations, as added by section 7(o)(2) of the Motorized Bicycle Amendment Act of 2012 (D.C. Law 19–290), is repealed.
(c)
Conforming amendment to Home Rule Act
Section 602(a) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act (sec. 1–206.02(a), D.C. Official Code) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (9), by striking  office; or  and inserting  office; ;
(2)
in paragraph (10), by striking the period at the end and inserting  ; or ; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(11)
enact any act, resolution, regulation or other requirement that prohibits a person from operating, or riding on, a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle unless wearing a protective helmet (as those terms are defined in the  Ride in Freedom Act ).
 .
(d)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
Helmet
The term  helmet  means a helmet that meets the standards set forth in section 741 of title 18 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations.
(2)
Motorcycle; motor-driven cycle
The terms  motorcycle  and  motor-driven cycle  have the meanings given those terms in section 9901 of title 18 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations.