New Florida bill to require license for e-bikes, updates driver’s licensing test
A newly filed bill in Florida is aiming to change the way the Sunshine State regulates high-speed electric bicycles. If it passes, it could have significant implications for riders and retailers alike.
The proposed legislation, HB 243, was filed by Republican Representative Yvette Benarroch and is set to be considered during Florida’s upcoming legislative session. The bill introduces several new requirements for electric bike and scooter riders, including a mandatory driver’s license or learner’s permit for anyone operating a Class 3 e-bike – that’s an e-bike capable of pedal assist at speeds between 21 to 28 mph (32 to 45 km/h).
While Florida law currently allows anyone over 16 to ride all legal classes of electric bikes without a license, this new bill would tighten that significantly. It also seeks to add e-bike and scooter safety content to the learner’s permit course and Class E driver license test, meaning future drivers would need to demonstrate knowledge of how to safely interact with these smaller electric vehicles.
In addition to licensing, HB 243 would: Advertisement - scroll for more content
Create a new “electric motorcycle” category for higher-speed electric vehicles, likely intended to encompass bikes like those from Sur Ron and other light electric dirt bike makers.
Ban riders under 16 from operating any electric motorcycle with 750W or more of power.
Require e-bike and scooter riders to yield to pedestrians on shared paths and use audible signals when passing.
Mandate crash reporting for incidents involving e-bikes and scooters.
Establish penalties for tampering with a motor or speed limiter on an electric bike.
While the House bill has been filed, there’s no Senate companion bill yet, and HB 243 is not law at this time. But if passed, it would mark a significant shift in how Florida classifies and regulates electric micromobility vehicles.
Electrek’s Take
This is one of the more heavy-handed e-bike regulation proposals we’ve seen at the state level, and it raises real questions about access, enforcement, and equity. Adding e-bike content to driver’s ed makes a lot of sense – there are a lot more micromobility EVs on the road now, and drivers need to understand how to safely share the road. But requiring a license for an e-bike that passes over the 20 mph Class 2 threshold? That’s a big step away from treating e-bikes like bicycles and toward treating them like mopeds or motorcycles.
E-bikes have long been an alternative for folks who don’t want to deal with the regulatory and bureaucratic hassle of motor vehicles, and treating Class 3 e-bikes like motorcycles feels like a step in the wrong direction.
As always, we’ll be keeping a close eye on this bill as it moves (or stalls) in the Florida legislature. For now, it’s just a proposal – but it could signal a broader trend toward tighter e-bike regulation across the US.
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