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Home My WebLink About032326-05.2 Legislative Update 1 March 23, 2026 BICYCLE ADVISORY STAFF REPORT 5.2 TO: Bicycle Advisory Commission March 23, 2026 SUBJECT: Review Legislative Update – Pending E-Bike Related Legislation (2025- 2026 California Session) BACKGROUND This report provides the Bicycle Advisory Commission with an overview of pending legislation in the 2025-2026 California legislative session related to electric bicycles (e- bikes). The bills address various aspects of e-bike regulation, including definitions, equipment, registration, operations, youth safety, and marketplace oversight. Most bills remain in early stages (introduced or amended in committee), with no enactments noted as of mid-March 2026. Staff has categorized them by regulatory themes, assessed qualitative local government impacts (based on potential effects on City operations, enforcement, infrastructure, and programs), and included brief summaries with full text links. DISCUSSION Regulatory Themes by Category 1. Definition / Classification o AB 1557 (Papan) – Technical clarification of e-bike definition, emphasizing fully operable pedals and motor not exceeding 750 watts peak power; includes amendments lowering Class 1/2 assisted speeds to 16 mph, prohibitions on higher-power sales/advertising, civil penalties, and labeling requirements. o SB 1167 (Blakespear) – Enforcement against misclassification/mislabeling of vehicles (e.g., mopeds, motor-driven cycles) as e-bikes, tying violations to false advertising laws under Business and Professions Code; includes disclosure requirements for certain motor vehicles and labeling standards. 2. Equipment Standards o AB 2346 (Wilson) – Requires speedometers on Class 1/2 e-bikes and integrated front/rear lighting on all e-bikes manufactured/sold after January 1, 2029; also includes manufacturer disclosures, civil penalties for noncompliance, and local authority for speed limits on paths/trails. Legislative Update 2 March 23, 2026 3.Registration & Identification o AB 1942 (Bauer-Kahan) – Mandates DMV registration and special license plates for Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes; violations as infractions with fines; establishes Electric Bicycle Registration Fund. 4.Operational Controls (Speed / Conduct) o AB 1614 (Dixon) – Requires operators of bicycles (including e-bikes) on Class I bikeways to ride on/astride a permanent seat (unless designed otherwise); passengers must use separate attached seat. o AB 2346 (Wilson) – Establishes prima facie speed limits (5 mph on sidewalks, 15 mph on Class IV bikeways); authorizes local agencies to set speed limits on bicycle paths/trails with signage; includes minor speed restriction (under 16 without permit). 5.Youth / School Safety o AB 1569 (Davies) – Requires K–12 schools allowing Class 1/2/3 e-bike parking on campus to mandate completion of CHP-developed (or equivalent) safety training program, with proof required before parking; exempts schools with pre-January 1, 2027, policies. o AB 2346 (Wilson) – Prohibits persons under 16 from riding self-propelled devices over 15 mph on highways/paths without an instruction permit. 6.Marketplace Oversight o AB 2284 (Dixon) – Requires CHP (in partnership with biking nonprofits) to publish/maintain a public list by June 1, 2027, of noncompliant e- bikes/products mislabeled or misadvertised. o SB 1167 (Blakespear) – Exposes false advertising/mislabeling violations. o AB 2346 (Wilson) – Imposes civil penalties (up to $50,000 for subsequent violations) on manufacturers/sellers for noncompliance. Relative Local Government Impact (Qualitative) High Impact: AB 2346 (new equipment mandates, local speed limit authority, prima facie limits, penalties, youth restrictions—potential effects on enforcement, signage, paths/trails); AB 1942 (DMV registration/plates—possible local enforcement role, registration compliance) Moderate Impact: AB 1569 (school parking policies/training requirements—may affect coordination with local school districts) Low Impact: AB 1557 (clarifications/penalties primarily state-level); AB 1614 (conduct on bikeways); AB 2284 (public list maintenance by state); SB 1167 (false advertising enforcement) No Current Impact: SB 956 (now includes substantive provisions on local ordinance authority for e-bike regulation, registration, speeds, etc., but still under consideration; intent language remains) Legislative Update 3 March 23, 2026 Bill Summaries  AB 1557 (Papan) – Vehicles: Electric Bicycles Clarifies e-bike definition (operable pedals, ≤750 watts peak power); amendments add speed reductions for Class 1/2, sales prohibitions, penalties, and labeling. Full Text: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260 AB1557  AB 1569 (Davies) – Pupil Safety: Electric Bicycle Parking: Safety Program Mandates safety training for student e-bike parking on K–12 campuses (with exemptions for early-adopted policies). Full Text: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260 AB1569  AB 1614 (Dixon) – Vehicles: Bicycles Requires seated operation on Class I bikeways and separate seats for passengers. Full Text: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260 AB1614  AB 1942 (Bauer-Kahan) – Electric Bicycles: Registration and Special License Plates Requires DMV registration/plates for Class 2/3 e-bikes; fines for violations. Full Text: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260 AB1942  AB 2284 (Dixon) – Vehicles: Electric Bicycles Requires public list of noncompliant e-bikes/products by June 1, 2027. Full Text: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260 AB2284  AB 2346 (Wilson) – Electric Bicycles and Speed Limits Mandates speedometers/lighting, disclosures, penalties; local speed authorities; prima facie limits; youth restrictions. Legislative Update 4 March 23, 2026 Full Text: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260 AB2346  SB 956 (Choi) – Vehicles: Electric Bicycles Spot bill with intent language; now includes amendments authorizing local ordinances on e-bike operations, registration, speeds, etc. Full Text: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260S B956  SB 1167 (Blakespear) – Vehicles: Electric Bicycles Prohibits mislabeling/advertising of non-e-bikes; ties to false advertising; disclosure/labeling requirements. Full Text: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260S B1167 RECOMMENDATION Review this legislative update in detail and provide feedback to staff via the Transportation Manager, Allan Shields. Staff will continue to track bill progress and report back on significant developments, amendments, or committee votes. Prepared by: Allan Shields Transportation Manager Attachment: Chart with Bills listed Bill Primary Focus Equipment Requirements Registration / Licensing Speed Regulation School Requirements Advertising / Labeling Enforcement Mechanism Local Agency Authority Impact Operational Impact (Local Gov) AB 1557 (Papan) Definition clarification Clarifies ≤750W peak motor power No No No No Clarifies statutory definition None Minimal; improves enforcement clarity AB 1569 (Davies) Student safety training None No No Requires CHP or equivalent safety course for K–12 e-bike parking (unless pre-2027 policy exists) No School policy compliance Indirect (schools implement policy) Moderate coordination with schools AB 1614 (Dixon) Riding configuration safety Requires operator seated; passengers on separate seat No No No No Citable vehicle code violation None Low; enforcement on Class I paths AB 1942 (Bauer- Kahan) Registration & plates None DMV registration required for Class 2 & 3; special plate required No No No Infraction with fines; DMV regulations None Significant enforcement and administrative implications AB 2284 (Dixon) Noncompliant product listing None No No No Requires publication of noncompliant e- bike/products list Administrative compliance listing None Low direct impact; aids enforcement/pub lic education AB 2346 (Wilson) Equipment + speed + disclosure + local authority Speedometer (Class 1 & 2 post- 2029); integrated front & rear lights (all e-bikes post- 2029) No Sets prima facie speeds (5 mph sidewalk; 15 mph Class IV); authorizes local path/trail speed limits Age <16 speed restriction (>15 mph without permit) Mandatory written law summary & POS disclosures Civil penalties up to $50k; AG/city attorney enforcement Expands authority to set path/trail speed limits High; signage, ordinance updates, enforcement adjustments SB 956 (Choi)Spot bill (intent) None No No No No None (no substantive change) None None SB 1167 (Blakespe ar) Mislabeling prohibition None No No No Expands prohibited mislabeling (includes mopeds, motor- driven cycles); false advertising violation Enforceable under Business & Professions Code None Low direct impact; consumer protection clarity