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Measure AB 545
Authors Davies  
Subject Vehicles: electric bicycles.
Relating To relating to vehicles.
Title An act to amend Section 24016 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.
Last Action Dt 2025-07-14
State Chaptered
Status Chaptered
Active? Y
Vote Required Majority
Appropriation No
Fiscal Committee Yes
Local Program Yes
Substantive Changes None
Urgency No
Tax Levy No
Leginfo Link Bill
Actions
2025-07-14     Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 37, Statutes of 2025.
2025-07-14     Approved by the Governor.
2025-07-11     Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 11 a.m.
2025-07-03     In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
2025-07-03     Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 35. Noes 0. Page 1932.).
2025-07-01     Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-06-30     From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-06-19     In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
2025-06-10     From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 13. Noes 0.) (June 10). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-05-21     Referred to Com. on TRANS.
2025-05-08     In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-05-08     Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 69. Noes 0. Page 1485.)
2025-05-01     Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-04-30     From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 30).
2025-04-08     From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-03-25     Re-referred to Com. on TRANS.
2025-03-24     From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on TRANS. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-19     In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-02-24     Referred to Com. on TRANS.
2025-02-12     From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.
2025-02-11     Read first time. To print.
Keywords
Tags
Versions
Chaptered     2025-07-14
Enrolled     2025-07-08
Amended Assembly     2025-03-24
Introduced     2025-02-11
Last Version Text 
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		<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Davies</ns0:AuthorText>
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				<ns0:Name>Davies</ns0:Name>
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		<ns0:Title> An act to amend Section 24016 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.</ns0:Title>
		<ns0:RelatingClause>vehicles</ns0:RelatingClause>
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			<ns0:Subject>Vehicles: electric bicycles.</ns0:Subject>
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			<html:p>Existing law defines an electric bicycle and classifies electric bicycles into 3 classes with different restrictions. Under existing law, a “class 1 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that, among other things, provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a “class 2 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a “class 3 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a speedometer and a motor that, in pertinent part, 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. Existing law prohibits a person from selling a product or device that can modify the speed capability of an electric bicycle so that it no longer meets the definition of an electric bicycle. A violation of the Vehicle Code is an infraction.</html:p>
			<html:p>This bill would also prohibit a person from selling an application that can modify the speed capability of an electric bicycle. By creating a new prohibition with respect to the modification of an electric bicycle, the violation of which is an infraction, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.</html:p>
			<html:p>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.</html:p>
			<html:p>This bill would provide that no reimbursement is
			 required by this act for a specified reason.</html:p>
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		<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
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			<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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				Section 24016 of the 
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				 is amended to read:
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					<ns0:Num>24016.</ns0:Num>
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								(a)
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								An electric bicycle described in subdivision (a) of Section 312.5 shall meet the following criteria:
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								(1)
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								Comply with the equipment and manufacturing requirements for bicycles adopted by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (16 C.F.R. 1512.1, et seq.).
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								(2)
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								Operate in a manner so that the electric motor is disengaged or ceases to function when the brakes are applied, or operate in a manner such that the motor is engaged through a switch or mechanism that, if released or activated, will
						cause the electric motor to disengage or cease to function.
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								(b)
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								A person operating an electric bicycle is not subject to the provisions of this code relating to financial responsibility, driver’s licenses, registration, and license plate requirements, and an electric bicycle is not a motor vehicle.
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								(c)
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								Every manufacturer of an electric bicycle shall certify that it complies with the equipment and manufacturing requirements for bicycles adopted by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (16 C.F.R. 1512.1, et seq.).
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								(d)
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								A person shall not tamper with or modify an electric bicycle described in subdivision (a) of Section 312.5 so as to change the speed capability of the bicycle, unless the bicycle continues to meet the definition of an electric bicycle under subdivision (a) of Section 312.5 and the person
						appropriately replaces the label indicating the classification required in subdivision (c) of Section 312.5.
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								(e)
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								A person shall not sell a
						product, device, or application that can modify the speed capability of an electric bicycle such that it no longer meets the definition of an electric bicycle under subdivision (a) of Section 312.5.
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					No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII
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					B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII
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					B of the California Constitution.
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Last Version Text Digest Existing law defines an electric bicycle and classifies electric bicycles into 3 classes with different restrictions. Under existing law, a “class 1 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that, among other things, provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a “class 2 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour. Under existing law, a “class 3 electric bicycle” is a bicycle equipped with a speedometer and a motor that, in pertinent part, 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. Existing law prohibits a person from selling a product or device that can modify the speed capability of an electric bicycle so that it no longer meets the definition of an electric bicycle. A violation of the Vehicle Code is an infraction. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.