TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida lawmakers OK’d a bill on Tuesday that aims to create several new rules surrounding E-Bikes and similar forms of transportation.
That bill — SB 382 — was introduced by state Sen. Keith Truenow (R-Lake County), who filed the bill back in November.
Under the bill, a driver’s license would be required to use certain types of E-Bikes, and riders would have to keep their license on them at all times while operating one.
More specifically, the rule applies to Class 3 E-Bikes, which are electric bicycles that stop providing pedal assistance once they reach 28 mph.
[BELOW: News 6 examines what could change under an identical House proposal]
Any violations of this rule could result in a citation, though it’s not the only rule laid out in SB 382. Other proposed regulations are as follows:
- Driver’s License Exams: Driver education courses must include content on sharing the road with bicycles, such as E-Bikes and motorized scooters.
- Park Paths: Anyone using an E-Bike on a pathway in a park or recreational area must yield to pedestrians or audibly signal before passing pedestrians.
- Crash Data: Florida Traffic Crash Reports must include whether the crash involved a motorized scooter, E-Bike or electric motorcycle.
- Modifying E-Bikes: Anyone caught purposefully modifying an E-Bike to change its motor-powered speed may be met with fines of up to $100. Subsequent violations could see fines of up to $250.
However, these rules will only become law if the bill is approved during the latest Legislative session.
On Tuesday, lawmakers on the Senate’s Transportation Committee unanimously approved the bill. Now, the bill needs to pass through two more committees before heading to a full Senate vote.
If it gets approved and signed into law, the bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2027.