Electric bicycle, motorcycle

AN ACT Relating to addressing electric-assisted bicycles and 1
electric motorcycles; amending RCW 46.04.169; and creating a new 2
section. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 46.04.169 and 2018 c 60 s 1 are each amended to read 5
as follows: 6
(1) "Electric-assisted bicycle" means a bicycle with two or three 7
wheels, a saddle, fully operative pedals for human propulsion, and an 8
electric motor. The electric-assisted bicycle's electric motor must 9
have a power output of no more than ((seven hundred fifty )) 750 10
watts. The electric-assisted bicycle must meet the requirements of 11
one of the following three classifications: 12
(((1))) (a) "Class 1 electric-assisted bicycle" means an 13
electric-assisted bicycle in which the motor provides assistance only 14
when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the 15
bicycle reaches the speed of ((twenty)) 20 miles per hour;16
(((2))) (b) "Class 2 electric-assisted bicycle" means an 17
electric-assisted bicycle in which the motor may be used exclusively 18
to propel the bicycle and is not capable of providing assistance when 19
the bicycle reaches the speed of ((twenty)) 20 miles per hour; or20
S-3855.1
SENATE BILL 6110
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Shewmake, Liias, Dhingra, and Nobles
Read first time 01/14/26. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
p. 1 SB 6110
(((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 (a) any vehicle 6
capable of exceeding 20 miles per hour on solely its electric motor 7
or (b) any vehicle that is modified or designed to be easily modified 8
to exceed the limitations described in subsection (1) of this 9
section.10
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The legislature recognizes the recent 11
proliferation of electric motorcycle use statewide, especially among 12
teenagers and young adults. The legislature also recognizes that 13
there is currently no state regulatory framework for such vehicles.14
(2)(a) The department of licensing must convene a work group to 15
study and recommend a new statutory framework for electric 16
motorcycles. The department may contract with a third-party 17
consultant for work group support and drafting the new statutory 18
framework. 19
(b) The work group must consist of, but is not limited to, the 20
following members: 21
(i) The secretary of the department of transportation or the 22
secretary's designee; 23
(ii) The executive director of the Washington traffic safety 24
commission or the executive director's designee; 25
(iii) The chief of the Washington state patrol or the chief's 26
designee; 27
(iv) A representative from the Cooper Jones active transportation 28
safety council; 29
(v) A representative of the association of Washington cities;30
(vi) A representative of the Washington state association of 31
counties; 32
(vii) A representative of a nonprofit organization specializing 33
in active transportation or electric bicycle safety;34
(viii) A representative of a statewide association representing 35
parks and recreation; and 36
(ix) Any other representative deemed necessary by the department 37
of licensing. 38
p. 2 SB 6110
(c) The work group must address the following framework 1
components: 2
(i) How electric motorcycles should be defined or classified, and 3
any new definitions for or modifications needed to other similarly 4
defined vehicle or mobility types; 5
(ii) If electric motorcycles should be subject to annual 6
registration and license fees, and if driver licensing examinations 7
should include an electric bicycle or motorcycle component;8
(iii) If the operation of an electric motorcycle should be 9
subject to mandatory driver education requirements, driver's license 10
or permit requirements, or a minimum age requirement;11
(iv) Appropriate rules of the road or equipment requirements for 12
electric motorcycles; 13
(v) Appropriate penalties for deceptive electric bicycle 14
marketing practices and electric bicycle tampering;15
(vi) If electric bicycle manufacturers and vendors should provide 16
disclosure statements or notices to consumers regarding the type of 17
vehicle being purchased; and 18
(vii) Any other study component deemed necessary by the work 19
group. 20
(d) The work group must submit a final report, including any 21
recommendations or draft legislation, to the office of the governor 22
and transportation committees of the legislature by December 15, 23
2026. 24
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p. 3 SB 6110