SHB 2374
In CommitteeHouse
Electric motorcycle, bicycle
Concerning electric-assisted bicycle and electric motorcycle regulation.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
The bill updates Washington’s vehicle definitions to clearly distinguish between electric-assisted bicycles and electric motorcycles, setting stricter power and speed limits for e-bikes and defining e-motorcycles as higher-powered vehicles requiring motorcycle licensing. It also creates a work group to study enforcement and consumer protection issues.
- Revises the definition of 'electric-assisted bicycle' to cap motor power at 750 watts and clarify three classes (Class 1, 2, and 3) based on speed and motor assistance type.
- Adds a new legal definition for 'electric motorcycle'—a vehicle that exceeds bicycle specifications (e.g., no pedals, motor >750 watts, or speed >28 mph with assist).
- Amends the definition of 'motorcycle' to explicitly include electric motorcycles and exclude electric-assisted bicycles.
- Creates a work group (by December 2026) to study enforcement challenges, consumer confusion between e-bikes and e-motorcycles, and recommend law changes.
- Includes an emergency clause making the law effective immediately upon passage (March 12, 2026).
Who is affected
- Electric bicycle and motorcycle riders — Riders of electric bikes and motorcycles will face clearer rules about what counts as a bicycle vs. motorcycle, affecting licensing, insurance, and where they can ride.
- Electric vehicle manufacturers and retailers — Manufacturers and sellers must ensure their vehicles meet new definitions and may need to adjust designs or labeling to comply with classification rules.
- Law enforcement agencies — Law enforcement agencies will receive guidance on consistently enforcing rules for electric motorcycles and bicycles, especially regarding age restrictions and equipment requirements.
- Local governments and transportation agencies — Local governments and transportation planners will use clearer definitions to update local rules about where electric bikes and motorcycles can operate (e.g., bike lanes, trails).
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (5)
The bill’s clear three-class e-bike framework (Class 1–3) aligns with federal standards (e.g., CPSC, FTC) and national e-bike industry norms, reducing regulatory ambiguity and preventing manufacturers from selling vehicles that exceed e-bike limits while marketing them as legal bicycles—protecting consumers from unintentional violations.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1(1), Sec. 1(2)(a), Sec. 1(2)(b)Explicitly including electric motorcycles in the legal definition of ‘motorcycle’ ensures they are subject to the same safety requirements (e.g., helmet laws, licensing, insurance) as gas-powered motorcycles, closing a regulatory gap that has emerged as high-speed e-motorcycles become more common.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 2, Sec. 3(2)Requiring disclosure of vehicle classification (e.g., via point-of-sale labeling or online listings) could prevent consumers from buying vehicles that exceed e-bike limits—avoiding fines, impoundment, or insurance denial when they realize the vehicle is classified as a motorcycle.
consumer protectionRef: Sec. 4(2)(c)(ii)The work group may identify enforcement gaps (e.g., inconsistent helmet or license checks for e-motorcycles) and recommend solutions—potentially reducing traffic violations and crashes involving high-speed electric vehicles.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 4(2)(a)(i)The work group’s flexibility to address additional issues (e.g., battery safety, software-based reconfiguration, child access to high-power modes) allows the state to proactively respond to emerging risks in rapidly evolving e-vehicle technology.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 4(2)(c)(iii)
Potential Concerns (5)
Stricter power and speed limits for e-bikes (750W, 20–28 mph) may reduce high-speed collisions and injuries, especially on shared paths and trails where e-bike use is growing rapidly.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), (2)(a), (2)(b)Creating a distinct legal category for electric motorcycles (exceeding e-bike specs) ensures riders of higher-powered vehicles are subject to motorcycle licensing, insurance, and equipment requirements—reducing unlicensed, uninsured, and unsafe operation of high-speed electric vehicles.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2, Sec. 3(3)The work group’s mandate to study consumer protections—including marketing practices and disclosure requirements—may reduce deceptive labeling that leads consumers to buy vehicles they mistakenly believe are legal as e-bikes, avoiding costly misclassification (e.g., buying a 1,000W vehicle without realizing it requires a motorcycle license).
consumer protectionLean peopleRef: Sec. 4(2)(a)(ii), Sec. 4(2)(c)(ii)Clarifying vehicle classifications will help local governments and transportation agencies update local rules about where e-bikes and e-motorcycles can operate (e.g., bike lanes, trails), reducing inconsistent enforcement and confusion across jurisdictions.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 4(2)(c)(i)The work group may improve law enforcement’s ability to enforce existing rules consistently, especially for age restrictions and equipment requirements (e.g., helmets, lights), though the bill does not mandate new training or funding—so impact is uncertain.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 4(1), Sec. 4(2)(a)(i)
Who Is Most Affected
Riders of Class 1 and 2 e-bikes (≤20 mph) face minimal impact—these vehicles remain exempt from licensing, registration, and insurance. However, riders of Class 3 e-bikes (≤28 mph) and all electric motorcycles will need to comply with motorcycle rules (license, insurance, helmet), increasing their cost and regulatory burden.
Manufacturers and retailers must ensure compliance with new definitions (e.g., power limits, pedal requirements, speed cutoffs), potentially redesigning or re-labeling vehicles. This may increase compliance costs, especially for smaller firms selling multi-mode vehicles that can be software-configured to exceed e-bike limits.
Law enforcement gains clarity on vehicle classifications, aiding consistent enforcement. However, without dedicated funding or training mandates, smaller agencies may struggle with implementation—especially for identifying vehicles near classification thresholds (e.g., 749W vs. 751W).
Local governments benefit from clearer rules for where e-bikes and e-motorcycles can operate (e.g., bike lanes vs. roads), but may face enforcement challenges if state guidance is vague or underfunded—especially regarding software-based reconfiguration or age restrictions.
Young riders (especially teens) are explicitly cited as a focus group—stricter classification may reduce access to high-speed e-motorcycles for unlicensed minors, improving safety, but may also limit mobility for low-income youth who rely on affordable electric vehicles.