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H.R. 10067House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Ride in Freedom Act

Sponsored by Derrick Van OrdenRep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI)
Introduced August 6, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated August 11, 2026 at 6:20 AM UTC

The Ride in Freedom Act would stop Washington, D.C. from requiring riders to wear protective helmets on motorcycles or motor‑driven cycles. It removes the current D.C. helmet rule and blocks the city government from creating new helmet mandates, affecting anyone who rides a motorcycle or similar vehicle in the District.

Key Provisions

  • Prohibits the D.C. Council and Mayor from enacting or enforcing any rule that forces a person to wear a helmet while operating or riding a motorcycle or motor‑driven cycle.
  • Repeals the existing D.C. regulation that requires helmets for those vehicles.
  • Amends the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to add a new paragraph that explicitly bars the city from creating future helmet‑requirement laws.
  • Provides definitions for “helmet,” “motorcycle,” and “motor‑driven cycle” as used in the Act.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

August 6, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

August 6, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

August 6, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued August 6, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10067

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

August 6, 2026

Mr. Van Orden introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

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 which 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 hereby 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 new paragraph:

(11)

enact any act, resolution, regulation or other requirement which prohibits a person from operating, or riding on, a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle unless wearing a protective helmet (as such terms are defined in the Ride in Freedom Act).

.

(d)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Helmet

The term helmet means a helmet which meets the standards set forth in 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 such terms in section 9901 of title 18 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations.