SB 1271

  • California Senate Bill
  • 2023-2024 Regular Session
  • Introduced in Senate Feb 15, 2024
  • Passed Senate May 21, 2024
  • Passed Assembly Aug 26, 2024
  • Became Law Sep 27, 2024

Electric bicycles, powered mobility devices, and storage batteries.

Abstract

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.

Bill Sponsors (2)

Votes


Actions


Sep 27, 2024

California State Legislature

Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 791, Statutes of 2024.

California State Legislature

Approved by the Governor.

Sep 09, 2024

California State Legislature

Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.

Aug 29, 2024

Senate

Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 38. Noes 0.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.

Aug 26, 2024

Assembly

Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6510.) Ordered to the Senate.

Senate

In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.

Aug 22, 2024

Assembly

Ordered to third reading.

Assembly

Read third time and amended.

Aug 08, 2024

Assembly

Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar.

Assembly

Ordered to third reading.

Assembly

From consent calendar on motion of Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry.

Aug 07, 2024

Assembly

From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (August 7).

Jun 26, 2024

Assembly

Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  • Amendment-Passage
  • Reading-1
  • Reading-2
  • Referral-Committee
Com. on APPR.

Jun 25, 2024

Assembly

From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (June 24).

Jun 18, 2024

Assembly

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.

  • Committee-Passage
  • Committee-Passage-Favorable
  • Referral-Committee
Com. on E.M.

Jun 11, 2024

Assembly

From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.

  • Amendment-Passage
  • Committee-Passage
  • Reading-1
  • Reading-2
  • Referral-Committee
Com. on TRANS.

Jun 03, 2024

Assembly

Referred to Coms. on TRANS. and E.M.

  • Referral-Committee
Coms. on TRANS. and E.M.

May 22, 2024

Assembly

In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.

May 21, 2024

Senate

Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 4056.) Ordered to the Assembly.

May 14, 2024

Senate

Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

May 13, 2024

Senate

From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.

May 03, 2024

Senate

Set for hearing May 13.

Apr 24, 2024

Senate

Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  • Amendment-Passage
  • Reading-1
  • Reading-2
  • Referral-Committee
Com. on APPR.

Apr 23, 2024

Senate

From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 16. Noes 0. Page 3722.) (April 23).

Apr 22, 2024

Senate

Set for hearing April 23.

Apr 17, 2024

Senate

Re-referred to Com. on G.O.

  • Referral-Committee
Com. on G.O.

Apr 11, 2024

Senate

Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.

  • Amendment-Passage
  • Reading-1
  • Reading-2
  • Referral-Committee
Com. on RLS.

Apr 10, 2024

Senate

From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on RLS. (Ayes 13. Noes 0. Page 3535.) (April 9).

Mar 26, 2024

Senate

Set for hearing April 9.

Mar 20, 2024

Senate

From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.

  • Amendment-Passage
  • Committee-Passage
  • Reading-1
  • Reading-2
  • Referral-Committee
Com. on TRANS.

Feb 29, 2024

Senate

Referred to Com. on TRANS.

  • Referral-Committee
Com. on TRANS.

Feb 16, 2024

Senate

From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 17.

Feb 15, 2024

Senate

Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Bill Text

Bill Text Versions Format
SB1271 HTML
02/15/24 - Introduced PDF
03/20/24 - Amended Senate PDF
04/11/24 - Amended Senate PDF
04/24/24 - Amended Senate PDF
06/11/24 - Amended Assembly PDF
06/26/24 - Amended Assembly PDF
08/22/24 - Amended Assembly PDF
09/03/24 - Enrolled PDF
09/27/24 - Chaptered PDF

Related Documents

Document Format
04/08/24- Senate Transportation PDF
04/19/24- Senate Governmental Organization PDF
05/14/24- Sen. Floor Analyses PDF
06/14/24- Assembly Transportation PDF
06/22/24- Assembly Emergency Management PDF
08/05/24- Assembly Appropriations PDF
08/09/24- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS PDF
08/23/24- ASSEMBLY FLOOR ANALYSIS PDF
08/27/24- Sen. Floor Analyses PDF

Sources

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