20250SB__095697AMD INTRODUCED 2026-02-02 AMENDED_SENATE 2026-03-09 AMENDED_SENATE 2026-04-06 2025 SB AMD Introduced by Senator Choi LEAD_AUTHOR SENATE Choi

An act to amend

Section of, and to add

Article 8.7 (commencing with

Section 5180) to

Chapter of Division of, the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. vehicles Vehicles: Electric Bicycle Special License Plate Pilot Program. Under existing law, a person riding an electric bicycle is subject to the laws pertaining to the operation of a bicycle upon a highway. For these purposes, existing law defines an electric bicycle as a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than watts, and classifies electric bicycles into classes with different restrictions, as specified.

Existing law states that these provisions do not prevent local authorities, by ordinance, from regulating the registration of bicycles and the parking and operation of bicycles on pedestrian or bicycle facilities, provided such regulation is not in conflict with the Vehicle Code. Existing law prohibits a city or county, which adopts a bicycle licensing ordinance or resolution, from prohibiting the operation of an unlicensed bicycle. This bill would exempt a person riding an electric bicycle from the laws pertaining to the operation of a bicycle if the exemption is from a local ordinance.

The bill would authorize a city, county, or city and county to adopt and enforce local ordinances regulating the operation, registration, speed limits, and equipment requirements for electric bicycles consistent with general safety and public welfare, including imposing, among other things, speed limits, age requirements, and equipment standards, including, but not limited to, helmet and safety equipment requirements for electric bicycles. The bill would authorize a local law enforcement agency to enforce these provisions.

The bill would authorize a local authority, by way of an adopted ordinance, to allow a person under years of age to operate a class electric bicycle, as specified.</xhtml:p>"?> The bill would, until January 1, 2032, authorize the County of Orange to establish a pilot program to require the display of a special license plate on electric bicycles.

The bill would authorize the county to adopt ordinances or resolutions to implement the pilot program, and would make a person operating an electric bicycle in violation of this requirement guilty of an infraction punishable by specified fines and mandatory attendance of the Department of the California Highway Patrol-approved electric bicycle training course. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also exempt electric bicycles from the prohibition described above.

The bill would, by January 1, 2032, require the county to submit a report to the Legislature, as specified. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. MAJORITY NO YES YES NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION

Article 8.7 (commencing with

Section 5180) is added to

Chapter of Division of the Vehicle Code , to read: 8.7. Electric Bicycle Special License Plate Pilot Program 5180. (

a) Notwithstanding any other law, the County of Orange may establish a pilot program to require the display of a special license plate on electric bicycles, as defined in

Section 312.5. (

b) The special license plate shall be affixed to the rear of the electric bicycle and shall be clearly visible and legible at all times. 5181. (

a) The county may adopt ordinances or resolutions to implement this article, including, but not limited to, ordinances on all of the following:

(1) Application and issuance of special license plates.

(2) Plate size, placement, and visibility requirements.

(3) Special license plate fees in an amount not to exceed the reasonable regulatory cost of issuing or renewing the special license plates.

(4) Proof of ownership requirements, including the provision of a serial number for the registered electric bicycle. (b)

(1) If an ordinance or resolution is adopted pursuant to this section, the county shall, by January 1, 2031, submit a report to the Legislature that includes all of the following: (

A) Total number of different electric bicycles registered, the amount of registration fees collected, and the operational costs of the program. (

B) Data on traffic citations and accidents involving registered versus unregistered electric bicycles, and whether the special license plates aided in identifying electric bikes involved in reckless incidents. (

C) Analysis of the rate of compliance among owners and the effectiveness of law enforcement in identifying motorized bicycles or mopeds, as defined in

Section 406, illegally classified as electric bicycles. (

D) Evaluation of how the program affected electric bicycle usage, public safety, and potential barriers to access. (

E) Challenges faced by the county in issuing special license plates, maintaining a registry, and collaborating with local law enforcement.

(2) A report submitted pursuant to this

section shall be submitted in compliance with

Section of the Government Code. 5182. (

a) A person operating an electric bicycle in violation of this

article is guilty of an infraction punishable by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) for the first offense, two hundred dollars ($200) for a second offense, and two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each subsequent offense. (

b) A person operating an electric bicycle in violation of this

article shall attend the Department of the California Highway Patrol-approved electric bicycle training course. 5183. This

article shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2032, and as of that date is repealed.

SEC. 2.

Section of the Vehicle Code is amended to read: 39002. (

a) A city or county, which adopts a bicycle licensing ordinance or resolution, shall not prohibit the operation of an unlicensed bicycle, except for an electric bicycle, as defined in

Section 312.5. (

b) It is unlawful for any person to tamper with, destroy, mutilate, or alter any license indicia or registration form, or to remove, alter, or mutilate the serial number, or the identifying marks of a licensing agency’s identifying symbol, on any bicycle frame licensed under this division.

SEC. 3. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to

Section of

Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of

Section of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of

Section of

Article XIII B of the California Constitution. <caml:Num>SECTION 1.</caml:Num><caml:ActionLine action="IS_AMENDED" xlink:href="urn:caml:codes:VEH:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'1.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'312.5.'%5D)" xlink:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" xlink:type="locator">Section 312.5 of the <caml:DocName>Vehicle Code</caml:DocName> is amended to read:</caml:ActionLine><caml:Fragment><caml:LawSection id="id_605A3C16-6E7D-4B84-9DAC-9E1383B5A9EB"><caml:Num>312.5.</caml:Num><caml:LawSectionVersion id="id_FA7C9F8D-E764-4604-8E92-A5DB68B7A2A5"><caml:Content><xhtml:p>(a)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>An “electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor that does not exceed watts of power.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(1)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A “class electric bicycle,” or “low-speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle,” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, that is not capable of exclusively propelling the bicycle, except as provided in paragraph (4), that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of miles per hour, and that is not capable of providing assistance to reach speeds greater than miles per hour.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(2)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A “class electric bicycle,” or “low-speed throttle-assisted electric bicycle,” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of miles per hour.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(3)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A “class electric bicycle,” or “speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle,” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, that is not capable of exclusively propelling the bicycle, except as provided in paragraph (4), and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of miles per hour, and equipped with a speedometer.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(4)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A class or class electric bicycle may have start assistance or a walk mode that propels the electric bicycle on motor power alone, up to a maximum speed of 3.7 miles per hour.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(b)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A person riding an electric bicycle, as defined in this section, is subject to

Article 4 (commencing with

Section 21200) of

Chapter of Division 11, unless a local ordinance provides otherwise.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(c)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>On and after January 1, 2017, manufacturers and distributors of electric bicycles shall apply a label that is permanently affixed, in a prominent location, to each electric bicycle.

The label shall contain the classification number, top assisted speed, and motor wattage of the electric bicycle, and shall be printed in Arial font in at least 9-point type.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(d)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>The following vehicles are not electric bicycles under this code and shall not be advertised, sold, offered for sale, or labeled as electric bicycles:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(1)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A vehicle with two or three wheels powered by an electric motor that is intended by the manufacturer to be modifiable to attain a speed greater than miles per hour on motor power alone or to attain more than watts of power.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(2)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A vehicle that is modified to attain a speed greater than miles per hour on motor power alone or to have motor power of more than watts.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(3)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>A vehicle that is modified to have its operable pedals removed.</xhtml:p></caml:Content></caml:LawSectionVersion></caml:LawSection></caml:Fragment></caml:BillSection><caml:BillSection id="id_6CD46469-4A4E-4A79-8B26-0343DDCE3F26"><caml:Num>SEC. 2.</caml:Num><caml:ActionLine action="IS_ADDED" xlink:href="urn:caml:codes:VEH:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2F%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'21200.1'%5D)" xlink:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" xlink:type="locator">Section 21200.1 is added to the <caml:DocName>Vehicle Code</caml:DocName>, to read:</caml:ActionLine><caml:Fragment><caml:LawSection id="id_653875F7-FF04-4077-8E43-A5BFF1996B82"><caml:Num>21200.1.</caml:Num><caml:LawSectionVersion id="id_AC4872AD-03F6-4184-BEC7-8EE0E4FDCC38"><caml:Content><xhtml:p>Notwithstanding any other law, nothing in this

article shall be construed to restrict the authority of a city, county, or city and county to adopt and enforce local ordinances regulating the operation, registration, speed limits, and equipment requirements for electric bicycles consistent with general safety and public welfare.</xhtml:p></caml:Content></caml:LawSectionVersion></caml:LawSection></caml:Fragment></caml:BillSection><caml:BillSection id="id_0362C277-82F4-46A9-8801-568A25911126"><caml:Num>SEC. 3.</caml:Num><caml:ActionLine action="IS_ADDED" xlink:href="urn:caml:codes:VEH:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2F%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'21206.5'%5D)" xlink:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" xlink:type="locator">Section 21206.5 is added to the <caml:DocName>Vehicle Code</caml:DocName>, to read:</caml:ActionLine><caml:Fragment><caml:LawSection id="id_6E27BDD3-204F-42FA-9907-81E3356600C7"><caml:Num>21206.5.</caml:Num><caml:LawSectionVersion id="id_DBD6873E-D4DD-4AF3-A456-0E731C2ACBCE"><caml:Content><xhtml:p>(a)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Notwithstanding

Section 21207.5, a local authority may, by ordinance, do all of the following:</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(1)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Regulate the operation of class 1, class 2, or class electric bicycles upon a street, bikeway, as defined in

Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public bicycle path or trail over which the local authority has jurisdiction.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(2)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Impose, among other things, speed limits, age requirements, equipment standards, including, but not limited to, helmet and safety equipment requirements, and other operational rules for electric bicycles within its jurisdiction, if those rules and standards are consistent with general safety and public welfare.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(3)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Issue license plates for, or require the registration of, electric bicycles within its jurisdiction.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(b)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>For purposes of enforcement, a local ordinance pursuant to this

section may be enforced by a local law enforcement agency.</xhtml:p></caml:Content></caml:LawSectionVersion></caml:LawSection></caml:Fragment></caml:BillSection><caml:BillSection id="id_7AC55D40-9594-476F-A8A0-BC04CCB66FEC"><caml:Num>SEC. 4.</caml:Num><caml:ActionLine action="IS_AMENDED" xlink:href="urn:caml:codes:VEH:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'11.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'1.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'ARTICLE'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'4.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'21213.'%5D)" xlink:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" xlink:type="locator">Section of the <caml:DocName>Vehicle Code</caml:DocName> is amended to read:</caml:ActionLine><caml:Fragment><caml:LawSection id="id_EEFCF6B2-5854-43D0-9C7C-2F65245FDE86"><caml:Num>21213.</caml:Num><caml:LawSectionVersion id="id_94708FB0-9007-4556-80FC-ED8D87F4AAA1"><caml:Content><xhtml:p>(a)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Except as otherwise provided by local ordinance adopted pursuant to

Section 21206.5, a person under years of age shall not operate a class electric bicycle.</xhtml:p><xhtml:p>(b)<xhtml:span class="EnSpace"/>Except as otherwise provided by local ordinance adopted pursuant to

Section 21206.5, operators and passengers of class electric bicycles shall wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of either the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or standards subsequently established by those entities.</xhtml:p></caml:Content></caml:LawSectionVersion></caml:LawSection></caml:Fragment></caml:BillSection>"?>