Requires low-speed electric bicycles and low-speed electric scooters to be registered with MVC and to be insured.

A2093

ASSEMBLY, No. 2093

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman LINDA S. CARTER

District 22 (Somerset and Union)

Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO

District 20 (Union)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblymen Sampson, DePhillips, S.Kean and Assemblywoman
Morales

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires low-speed electric bicycles and low-speed
electric scooters to be registered with MVC and to be insured.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act

concerning low-speed electric bicycles and low-speed
electric scooters, and amending various parts of the statutory law.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� Section 19 of P.L.1983,
c.362 (C.17:28-1.3) is amended to read as follows:

���� 19.� a.� Every liability
insurance policy issued in this State on a motor vehicle, exclusive of an
automobile as defined in section 2 of P.L.1972, c.70 (C.39:6A-2), but including
a motorcycle and an autocycle, or on a motorized bicycle
, low-speed electric
bicycle, or low-speed electric scooter
, insuring against loss resulting
from liability imposed by law for bodily injury, death, and property damage
sustained by any person arising out of the ownership, operation, maintenance,
or use of a motor vehicle
, low-speed electric bicycle, low-speed electric
scooter,
or motorized bicycle shall provide personal injury protection
coverage benefits, in accordance with section 4 of P.L. 1972, c. 70
(C.39:6A-4), to pedestrians who sustain bodily injury in the State caused by
the named insured's motor vehicle
, low-speed electric bicycle, low-speed
electric scooter,
or motorized bicycle or by being struck by an object
propelled by or from the motor vehicle
, low-speed electric bicycle,
low-speed electric scooter,
or motorized bicycle.

���� b.��� For purposes of this
section:

���� "Autocycle" means a
three-wheeled motorcycle designed to be controlled with a steering wheel and
pedals in which the operator and passenger may ride in a completely or
partially enclosed seating area that is equipped with a roll cage or roll hoops,
safety seat belts for each occupant, and anti-lock brakes.

����
"Low-speed electric
bicycle" means a two or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals
and an electric motor of less than 750 watts, that meets the requirements of
one of the following classifications: "class 1 low-speed electric bicycle"
which means a low-speed electric 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; or
"class 2 low-speed electric bicycle'' which means a low-speed electric
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.

����
"Low-speed electric
scooter" means a scooter with a floorboard that can be stood upon by the
operator, with handlebars, and an electric motor that is capable of propelling
the device with or without human propulsion at a maximum speed of less than 19
miles per hour.

���� "Motorcycle"
includes motorcycles, autocycles, motor bikes, bicycles with motor attached and
all motor-operated vehicles of the bicycle or tricycle type, except motorized
bicycles as defined in this section, whether the motive power be a part thereof
or attached thereto and having a saddle or seat with the driver sitting astride
or upon it or a platform on which the driver stands.

���� "Motorized bicycle"
means a pedal bicycle having a helper motor characterized in that either the
maximum piston displacement is less than 50 cc. or said motor is rated at no
more than 1.5 brake horsepower or is powered by an electric drive motor and
said bicycle is capable of a maximum speed of no more than 25 miles per hour on
a flat surface.

(cf: P.L.2019, c.110, s.2.)

���� 2.��� Section 14 of P.L.1972,
c.70 (C.39:6A-14) is amended to read as follows:

���� 14.� Every owner or registrant
of an automobile
, low-speed electric bicycle, low-speed electric scooter,

or autocycle registered or principally garaged in this State shall maintain
uninsured motorist coverage as provided in P.L.1968, c.385 (C.17:28-1.1).

(cf: P.L.2016, c.35, s.6.)

���� 3.��� Section 2 of P.L.2019,
c.121 (C.39:4-14.16) is amended to read as follows:

���� 2.��� a. �A low-speed electric
bicycle or low-speed electric scooter, as defined in R.S.39:1-1, may be
operated on the streets, highways, roadways, and bicycle paths of this State,
except as otherwise provided in this section, and may be parked on a sidewalk
provided that the low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter does
not impede the normal movement of pedestrian or other traffic upon the
sidewalk.

���� b.��� On and after January 1,
2019, manufacturers and distributors of low-speed electric bicycles shall apply
a label that is permanently affixed, in a prominent location, to each low-speed
electric bicycle. The label shall contain the classification number, top
assisted speed, and motor wattage of the low-speed electric bicycle, and shall
be printed in Arial font in at least 9-point type.

���� c.���� A person shall not
tamper with or modify a low-speed electric bicycle so as to change the
motor-powered speed capability or engagement of a low-speed electric bicycle,
unless that person appropriately replaces the label indicating the
classification required in subsection b. of this section.

���� d.��� A low-speed electric
bicycle or low-speed electric scooter may be operated on bicycle paths, except
that a local government entity or State agency may prohibit the operation of
low-speed electric bicycles or low-speed electric scooters on bicycle paths under
its jurisdiction.

���� e.���� Unless permitted by a
local government entity or State agency with jurisdiction, a low-speed electric
bicycle or low-speed electric scooter shall not be operated on a trail
designated for non-motorized traffic if such trail has a natural surface tread
made by clearing and grading the soil and no surfacing materials have been
added.

���� f.���� The operator of a
low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter shall not be required
to
[
register
the low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter, and furnish proof
of insurance, or
]

have a driver's license.

���� g.��� Except as otherwise
provided by this section, all statutes, including the provisions of chapter 4
of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes, rules, and regulations applicable to
bicycles, as defined in section 1 of P.L.1991, c.465 (C.39:4-10.1), shall apply
to low-speed electric bicycles and low-speed electric scooters, except those
provisions which by their very nature may have no application to low-speed
electric bicycles or low-speed electric scooters.

���� h.��� A low-speed electric
bicycle or low-speed electric scooter shall be considered a motor vehicle to
the extent required by 23 U.S.C. s.154.

����
i.���� (1)� No person shall
operate a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter unless the
low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter is registered by the
owner thereof, as provided in this subsection.�

����
(2)�� The New Jersey Motor
Vehicle Commission is authorized to grant a registration certificate to the
owner of a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter, provided
that the application for registration has been properly submitted, the registration
fee has been paid, and the low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric
scooter is of a type approved by the Chief Administrator of the New Jersey
Motor Vehicle Commission.�

����
(3)�� The form and contents
of the registration certificate shall be prescribed by the chief
administrator.� The chief administrator shall maintain a record of all
registration certificates issued and their contents.

����
(4)�� The registration
shall expire and the registration certificate shall become void on the last day
of the 11th calendar month following the calendar month in which the
certificate was issued, except that the chief administrator may suspend or
revoke a registration for any violation of this section or any rules
promulgated thereunder.

����
(5)�� Application forms for
all renewals of registrations for low-speed electric bicycles and low-speed
electric scooters shall be mailed by the commission to the last known address
of the owner of the low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter, as
such address appears on the records of the commission.

����
(6)�� The fee for the
initial registration of a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric
scooter, and each renewal of registration, shall be $8.

����
j.���� An owner or
registered owner of a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter
registered or principally garaged in this State shall maintain liability
insurance coverage pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1972, c.197 (C.39:6B-1),
personal injury protection coverage for pedestrians pursuant to section 19 of
P.L. 1983, c.362 (C.17:28-1.3), and uninsured motorist coverage pursuant to
section 14 of P.L.1972, c.70 (C.39:6A-14).

(cf: P.L.2019, c.121, s.2)

���� 4.��� Section 1 of P.L.1972,
c.197 (C.39:6B-1) is amended to read as follows:

���� 1.��� a.� Every owner or
registered owner of a motor vehicle
, low-speed electric bicycle, or low-speed
electric scooter
registered or principally garaged in this State shall
maintain motor vehicle
, low-speed electric bicycle, or low-speed electric
scooter
liability insurance coverage, under provisions approved by the
Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, insuring against loss resulting from
liability imposed by law for bodily injury, death and property damage sustained
by any person arising out of the ownership, maintenance, operation or use of a
motor vehicle
, low-speed electric bicycle, or low-speed electric scooter

wherein such coverage shall be at least in: (1) an amount or limit of $15,000
for plans issued or renewed prior to January 1, 2023, $25,000 for plans issued
or renewed on or after January 1, 2023 but prior to January 1, 2026, and
$35,000 for plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, exclusive of
interest and costs, on account of injury to, or death of, one person, in any
one accident; and (2) an amount or limit, subject to such limit for any one
person so injured or killed, of $30,000 for plans issued or renewed prior to
January 1, 2023, $50,000 for plans issued or renewed on or after January 1,
2023 but prior to January 1, 2026, and $70,000 for plans issued or renewed on
or after January 1, 2026, exclusive of interest and costs, on account of injury
to or death of, more than one person, in any one accident; and (3) an amount or
limit of $25,000 for plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2023,
exclusive of interest and costs, for damage to property in any one accident.

���� b.��� Notwithstanding the
provisions of subsection a. of this section, an owner or registered owner of an
automobile, as defined in section 2 of P.L.1972, c.70 (C.39:6A-2), registered
or primarily garaged in the State may satisfy the requirements of subsection a.
of this section by maintaining a basic automobile insurance policy containing
coverages provided pursuant to subsections a. and b. of section 4 of P.L.1998,
c.21 (C.39:6A-3.1).

���� c.���� Notwithstanding the
provisions of subsection a. of this section, an owner or registered owner of an
automobile, as defined in section 2 of P.L.1972, c.70 (C.39:6A-2), registered
or primarily garaged in the State may satisfy the requirements of subsection a.
of this section by maintaining a special automobile insurance policy containing
coverages provided pursuant to subsection b. of section 45 of P.L.2003, c.89
(C.39:6A-3.3).

���� d.��� Upon the renewal of a
policy of insurance that, under its original policy limits, would no longer
meet the minimum requirements established pursuant to this section, an insurer
shall notify the named insured that the policy limits have been increased to meet
the requirements established pursuant to this section.� Notice provided
pursuant to this subsection shall specify the limit or limits that have been
increased to meet the requirements established pursuant to this section.�
Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary,
an insurer shall not be required to receive a signed coverage selection form
pursuant to N.J.A.C.11:3-15.7, to increase a policy's limits pursuant to this
section.

(cf: P.L.2022, c.87, s.2.)

����� 5.
�This act shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

���� This bill requires low-speed
electric bicycles and low-speed electric scooters to be registered with the New
Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) and to be insured.

���� The bill prohibits the operation
of a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter unless the
low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter is registered by the
owner thereof.

���� The bill authorizes the MVC to
grant a registration certificate to the owner of a low-speed electric bicycle
or low-speed electric scooter, provided that the application for registration
has been properly submitted, the registration fee has been paid, and the
low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter is of a type approved
by the MVC.� The bill provides that the registration expires on the last day of
the 11th calendar month following the calendar month in which the certificate
was issued.

���� The bill requires the owner or
registered owner of a low-speed electric bicycle or low-speed electric scooter
registered or principally garaged in this State to maintain liability insurance
coverage, personal injury protection coverage for pedestrians, and uninsured
motorist coverage.