Motorcycle helmet bill stalled

A proposal to eliminate the requirement for all motorcycle riders to wear helmets motored into a roadblock in the Legislature Wednesday and headed toward a decision on Thursday on moving forward.

A motion will be in order late on Thursday morning to end a filibuster led by Sen. Robert Hilkemann of Omaha, clearing the path for a test vote measuring support for the bill (LB900) sponsored by Sen. Dave Bloomfield of Hoskins.

For Bloomfield, the bill represents his last opportunity as a senator to accomplish a long-held priority to remove the restriction applied to motorcycle riders. The senator, a former truck driver, will be term-limited out of office at the end of the year.

Debate on the proposal traveled familiar ground, pitting what Bloomfield described as “freedom to choose” against the risks of riding without a helmet and the costs resulting from accidents, particularly in dealing with and treating brain injuries.

Hilkemann offered a motion to shelve the bill, suggesting it could serve as “a trial vote” to measure whether a later motion to end a filibuster ultimately would attract the 33 votes required. 

That motion failed on a 17-25 vote, but the 17 votes represented just enough strength to sustain an ongoing filibuster in the 49-member Legislature.  

However, Bloomfield said during a brief interview he has assurances from some senators who may have voted to bracket the bill that they would not vote to sustain a filibuster and thus allow the Legislature to move to a decision on the bill itself.

Bloomfield offered a revised proposal this year that addressed some of the objections raised by opponents of his previous bills.  

This year’s measure would allow riders 21 or older to choose whether to wear a helmet or not. In any event, they would be required to wear eye protection or be protected by a windshield.

Children under 8 years old would not be allowed on motorcycles on public roads.

The bill would establish a brain injury trust funded by a $19 increase in registration fees for motorcycles. That would raise an estimated $1.1 million.

Hilkemann has authored nine amendments that could be used to fuel a continuing filibuster.

While opponents like Sens. Kate Bolz of Lincoln and Mike Gloor of Grand Island pointed to the costs of motorcycle injuries, supporters including Sens. Laura Ebke of Crete and Ernie Chambers of Omaha stressed individual liberty.

“Freedom is where I stand,” Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte declared. “Mind your own business.”

Motorcycle helmet bill stalled