Dave Min
- Democratic
- Senator
- District 37
Author
Existing law defines an electric bicycle as a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts, and classifies electric bicycles into 3 classes with different restrictions for various purposes, including the requirement that manufacturers and distributors of electric bicycles apply a label that is permanently affixed to each electric bicycle that contains, among other things, the classification number of the electric bicycle, as specified. Existing law defines "class 1 electric bicycle" as a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour, and defines "class 3 electric bicycle" as a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour, and equipped with a speedometer. A violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime. This bill would clarify that an electric bicycle is a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor that does not exceed 750 watts of power. The bill would also clarify the definitions of "class 1 electric bicycle" and "class 3 electric bicycle" by providing that the motor on a class 1 electric bicycle is not capable of exclusively propelling the bicycle, except as specified, nor providing assistance to reach speeds greater than 20 miles per hour and the motor on a class 3 electric bicycle is not capable of exclusively propelling the bicycle, except as specified. The bill would prohibit specified vehicles from being advertised, sold, offered for sale, or labeled as electric bicycles, as specified. Because the bill would impose new requirements for electric bicycles, the violation of which would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law establishes the Office of the State Fire Marshal in the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal to, among other things, adopt and administer regulations and standards to control the servicing, charging, and testing of portable fire extinguishers and to control the sale and marketing of these devices with respect to conformance with standards of their use, capacity, and effectiveness. Existing law prohibits a person from marketing, distributing, or selling portable fire extinguishers unless it complies with the regulations and standards adopted by the State Fire Marshal. Commencing January 1, 2026, this bill would require the State Fire Marshal to adopt regulations that promote the fire and electrical safety of electric bicycles, powered mobility devices, and storage batteries, as specified. Commencing January 1, 2026, this bill would prohibit a person from distributing, selling, leasing, or offering for sale or lease, an electric bicycle or powered mobility device, as defined, unless the storage battery for the electric bicycle or powered mobility device has been tested by an accredited testing laboratory for compliance with a specified standard. Commencing January 1, 2026, the bill would prohibit a person from distributing, selling, leasing, or offering for sale or lease a storage battery unless the battery meets specified requirements. Commencing January 1, 2026, the bill would prohibit a person from distributing, selling, leasing, or offering for sale or lease, an electric bicycle, powered mobility device, or storage battery unless the logo, wordmark, label, or name of an accredited testing laboratory and the applicable test standard used to show compliance is displayed, as specified. Commencing January 1, 2028, the bill would prohibit a person from renting or offering for rental an electric bicycle, powered mobility device, charging system, or storage battery unless it has been tested for compliance with a specified standard. Commencing January 1, 2026, the bill would require a manufacturer, importer, distributor, or retailer of an electric bicycle, powered mobility device, charging system, or storage battery subject to testing under these provisions to provide, upon request, a true and accurate copy of the test report for the product issued by the accredited testing laboratory. 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.
Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 791, Statutes of 2024.
Approved by the Governor.
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 5655.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6510.) Ordered to the Senate.
In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
Ordered to third reading.
Read third time and amended.
Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.
Ordered to third reading.
From consent calendar on motion of Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry.
From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (August 7).
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (June 24).
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on E.M. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 4056.) Ordered to the Assembly.
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
Set for hearing May 13.
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 16. Noes 0. Page 3722.) (April 23).
Set for hearing April 23.
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on RLS. (Ayes 13. Noes 0. Page 3535.) (April 9).
Set for hearing April 9.
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 17.
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
| Bill Text Versions | Format |
|---|---|
| SB1271 | HTML |
| 02/15/24 - Introduced | |
| 03/20/24 - Amended Senate | |
| 04/11/24 - Amended Senate | |
| 04/24/24 - Amended Senate | |
| 06/11/24 - Amended Assembly | |
| 06/26/24 - Amended Assembly | |
| 08/22/24 - Amended Assembly | |
| 09/03/24 - Enrolled | |
| 09/27/24 - Chaptered |
| Document | Format |
|---|---|
| 04/08/24- Senate Transportation | |
| 04/19/24- Senate Governmental Organization | |
| 05/14/24- Sen. Floor Analyses | |
| 06/14/24- Assembly Transportation | |
| 06/22/24- Assembly Emergency Management | |
| 08/05/24- Assembly Appropriations | |
| 08/09/24- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS | |
| 08/23/24- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS | |
| 08/27/24- Sen. Floor Analyses |
Data on Open States is updated periodically throughout the day from the official website of the California State Legislature.
If you notice any inconsistencies with these official sources, feel free to file an issue.