SALEM — Speaking on behalf of a bill that, if passed, would allow children younger than 7 to operate a motorcycle, Sen. Bruce Starr asked his fellow lawmakers Tuesday, “Who cares more about a child than a parent?”

Starr, R-Hillsboro, said the state should be trusting parents with their children’s safety. This bill, he said, empowers parents to make decisions for their own family and promotes family recreation.

Senate Bill 238 passed the Senate, 22-7, and now heads to the House. The bill would allow young children to operate motorcycles on public lands.

Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson, D-Gresham, said it doesn’t “seem prudent to let children under the age of 7 to operate this machinery.”

The young riders must show they are physically capable of operating the machine, known as “rider fit.” They must be able to reach the brakes and handlebars and must demonstrate they can turn the motorcycle while keeping control of the throttle and brake.

“I started using a tractor when I was 5,” said Sen. Jeff Kruse, R-Roseburg. “A lot of us grew up with these (machines) and bigger, and somehow we have managed to survive.”

Right now, the law permits 7- to 15-year-olds to ride as long as they have a permit and are accompanied by an adult. In Oregon, everything that goes off-road, such as a Jeep, motorcycle or dune buggy, is considered an all-terrain vehicle, by law. There are no age restrictions currently when it comes to riding four-wheelers, often known as ATVs.

Sen. Lee Beyer, D-Springfield, said ensuring the young children who want to ride the vehicles are first tested and given a certification will increase safety.

“We’re actually educating their parents,” he said. “We’re probably making sure the young people have the safety gear they should be wearing. So you’re ensuring safety, not decreasing.”

Ron Price, the all-terrain vehicle coordinator with the Oregon State Parks, said SB 238 extends to motorcycles the no-age limit that applies to ATVs and makes the law more equal across the spectrum of off-road vehicles. Also, he said, kids are already riding dirt bikes on their farms; this makes it legal for them to ride with their families on trails.

“There are kids that are 5 and 6 years old that are better riders than I am,” he said.

Wade Bryant teaches quad or four-wheel ATV safety courses. People come from all over the state to ride Central Oregon’s trails, he said. It’s the same with motorcycles. Price said he’s talking with Bryant to extend those classes to encompass young motorcycle riders.

“We’re a big destination,” Bryant said of Central Oregon.

Senate Bill 238

What it’s about: Allows a child younger than 7 to operate a Class III all-terrain vehicle, a motorcycle, on public lands if the child meets “rider fit” guidelines established by the State Board of Parks and Recreation. Specifies that children younger than 16 must meet rider fit guidelines to operate Class III all-terrain vehicles on public lands.

What happened: Passed Senate, 22-7.

What’s next: Moves to House.