Electric motorcycle, bicycle

AN ACT Relating to electric-assisted bicycle and electric 1
motorcycle regulation; amending RCW 46.04.169 and 46.04.330; adding a 2
new section to chapter 46.04 RCW; creating a new section; and 3
declaring an emergency. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
Sec. 1. RCW 46.04.169 and 2018 c 60 s 1 are each amended to read 6
as follows: 7
(1) "Electric-assisted bicycle" means a bicycle with two or three 8
wheels, a saddle, fully operative pedals for human propulsion, and an 9
electric motor. The electric-assisted bicycle's electric motor must 10
have a power output of no more than ((seven hundred fifty )) 750 11
watts. The electric-assisted bicycle must meet the requirements of 12
one of the following three classifications: 13
(((1))) (a) "Class 1 electric-assisted bicycle" means an 14
electric-assisted bicycle in which the motor provides assistance only 15
when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the 16
bicycle reaches the speed of ((twenty)) 20 miles per hour;17
(((2))) (b) "Class 2 electric-assisted bicycle" means an 18
electric-assisted bicycle in which the motor may be used exclusively 19
to propel the bicycle and is not capable of providing assistance when 20
the bicycle reaches the speed of ((twenty)) 20 miles per hour; or21
H-2671.4
HOUSE BILL 2374
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Zahn, Reed, Berry, Hall, Duerr, Doglio, and Thai
Prefiled 01/09/26. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Transportation.
p. 1 HB 2374
(((3))) (c) "Class 3 electric-assisted bicycle" means an 1
electric-assisted bicycle in which the motor provides assistance only 2
when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the 3
bicycle reaches the speed of ((twenty-eight)) 28 miles per hour and 4
is equipped with a speedometer. 5
(2) "Electric-assisted bicycle" does not include:6
(a) Any vehicle capable of exceeding 20 miles per hour on solely 7
its electric motor; or8
(b) Any vehicle that is designed, manufactured, or intended by 9
the manufacturer or seller to be easily configured in order not to 10
meet the requirements of an electric-assisted bicycle, whether by a 11
mechanical switch or button, by changing a setting in software 12
controlling the drive system, by use of an online application, or 13
through other means intended by the manufacturer or seller.14
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 46.04 15
RCW to read as follows: 16
"Electric motorcycle" means a motorcycle, as defined in RCW 17
46.04.330, that uses propulsion units powered solely by electricity 18
and meets one or more of the following criteria: 19
(1) Is not equipped with fully operable pedals capable of 20
propelling it. Foot pegs are not considered pedals;21
(2) Has a motor with a power output that exceeds 750 watts;22
(3) Has a motor that provides exclusive electric assist to propel 23
the vehicle over a speed of 20 miles per hour; 24
(4) Has a motor that continues to provide assistance when the 25
vehicle reaches a speed greater than 28 miles per hour.26
Sec. 3. RCW 46.04.330 and 2013 c 174 s 1 are each amended to 27
read as follows: 28
(1) "Motorcycle" means a motor vehicle designed to travel on not 29
more than three wheels, not including any stabilizing conversion 30
kits, on which the driver: 31
(((1))) (a) Rides on a seat or saddle and the motor vehicle is 32
designed to be steered with a handlebar; or 33
(((2))) (b) Rides on a seat in a partially or completely enclosed 34
seating area that is equipped with safety belts and the motor vehicle 35
is designed to be steered with a steering wheel. 36
(2) "Motorcycle" includes an "electric motorcycle."37
p. 2 HB 2374
(3) "Motorcycle" excludes a farm tractor, a power wheelchair, an 1
electric personal assistive mobility device, a motorized foot 2
scooter, an electric-assisted bicycle, and a moped.3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The legislature recognizes the recent 4
proliferation of electric motorcycle use statewide, especially among 5
teenagers and young adults. The legislature also recognizes that 6
there is a growing need to focus on the differences between electric-7
assisted bicycles and electric motorcycles to provide a clear means 8
of distinguishing between the regulations that apply to each type of 9
vehicle.10
(2)(a) The department of licensing must convene a work group to 11
study and recommend: (i) Whether additional training or other 12
investments could assist with uniform and consistent enforcement of 13
rules of the road and equipment requirements applicable to all types 14
of electric motorcycles; and (ii) whether consumer protections 15
related to a consumer's ability to distinguish between electric 16
bicycles and electric motorcycles would facilitate adherence to the 17
laws applicable to each category of vehicle. The department may 18
contract with a third-party consultant for work group support and to 19
make recommendations on potential changes to state law.20
(b) The work group must consist of, but is not limited to, the 21
following members: 22
(i) The secretary of the department of transportation or the 23
secretary's designee; 24
(ii) The executive director of the Washington traffic safety 25
commission or the executive director's designee; 26
(iii) The chief of the Washington state patrol or the chief's 27
designee; 28
(iv) A representative from the Cooper Jones active transportation 29
safety council; 30
(v) A representative of the association of Washington cities;31
(vi) A representative of the Washington state association of 32
counties; 33
(vii) A representative of a nonprofit organization specializing 34
in active transportation or electric bicycle safety; and35
(viii) Any other representative deemed necessary by the 36
department of licensing. 37
(c) The work group must address the following topics:38
p. 3 HB 2374
(i) Enforcement of motorcycle rules of the road and equipment 1
requirements as applied to all types of electric motorcycles, 2
including whether any category of electric motorcycles may not be 3
subject to consistent enforcement across the state, and if not, how 4
enforcement could be made more consistent across all types of 5
electric motorcycles; 6
(ii) Vehicle modifications that impact vehicle classification and 7
may require vehicle reclassification, potential vehicle marketing 8
practice and disclosure requirements related to vehicle 9
classification that could assist consumers in distinguishing between 10
electric-assisted bicycles and electric motorcycles, and any 11
penalties that would be appropriate for violations of these 12
requirements; and 13
(iii) Any additional areas of focus the work group finds relevant 14
to the objective of the assessment. 15
(d) The work group must submit a final report, including any 16
recommendations or draft legislation, to the office of the governor 17
and transportation committees of the legislature by December 15, 18
2026. 19
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Section 4 of this act is necessary for the 20
immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or 21
support of the state government and its existing public institutions, 22
and takes effect immediately.23
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