SB 956: Vehicles: Electric Bicycle Special License Plate Pilot Program.
This bill would allow the county of Orange to establish a pilot program requiring electric bicycles to display a special license plate. The pilot program would run until January 1, 2032, and would allow the county to adopt ordinances or resolutions to implement the program. Operating an electric bicycle without the special license plate would be considered an infraction, punishable by fines and mandatory attendance at an electric bicycle training course. The bill would also exempt electric bicycles from a state law prohibiting the operation of unlicensed bicycles. After January 1, 2032, the county would be required to submit a report to the legislature on the pilot program's effectiveness.
| Apr. 20, 2026 | April 21 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author. |
| Apr. 10, 2026 | Set for hearing April 21. |
| Apr. 06, 2026 | From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS. |
| Apr. 01, 2026 | April 14 hearing postponed by committee. |
| Mar. 26, 2026 | Set for hearing April 14. |
| Amended IN Senate April 06, 2026 |
| Amended IN Senate March 09, 2026 |
| Introduced by Senator Choi |
February 02, 2026 |
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
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 16 years of age to operate a class 3 electric bicycle, as specified.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Article 8.7 (commencing with Section 5180) is added to Chapter 1 of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code, to read:Article 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 312.5.5181.
(a) The county may adopt ordinances or resolutions to implement this article, including, but not limited to, ordinances on all of the following: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.5183.
This article shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2032, and as of that date is repealed.SEC. 2.
Section 39002 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 unlicensedSEC. 3.
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 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 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.(a)An “electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor that does not exceed 750 watts of power.
(1)A “class 1 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 20 miles per hour, and that is not capable of providing assistance to reach speeds greater than 20 miles per hour.
(2)A “class 2 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 20 miles per hour.
(3)A “class 3 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 28 miles per hour, and equipped with a speedometer.
(4)A class 1 or class 3 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.
(b)A person riding an electric bicycle, as defined in this section, is subject to Article 4 (commencing with Section 21200) of Chapter 1 of Division 11, unless a local ordinance provides otherwise.
(c)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.
(d)The following vehicles are not electric bicycles under this code and shall not be advertised, sold, offered for sale, or labeled as electric bicycles:
(1)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 20 miles per hour on motor power alone or to attain more than 750 watts of power.
(2)A vehicle that is modified to attain a speed greater than 20 miles per hour on motor power alone or to have motor power of more than 750 watts.
(3)A vehicle that is modified to have its operable pedals removed.
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.
(a)Notwithstanding Section 21207.5, a local authority may, by ordinance, do all of the following:
(1)Regulate the operation of class 1, class 2, or class 3 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.
(2)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.
(3)Issue license plates for, or require the registration of, electric bicycles within its jurisdiction.
(b)For purposes of enforcement, a local ordinance pursuant to this section may be enforced by a local law enforcement agency.
(a)Except as otherwise provided by local ordinance adopted pursuant to Section 21206.5, a person under 16 years of age shall not operate a class 3 electric bicycle.
(b)Except as otherwise provided by local ordinance adopted pursuant to Section 21206.5, operators and passengers of class 3 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.