Electric bicycles: registration and special license plates.
If you own a class 2 or class 3 electric bicycle, you will need to register it and obtain a special license plate.
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AB 1942 — Electric bicycles: registration and special license plates.
Last action — In committee: Held under submission.
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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1Introduced
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2In Committee
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3Passed Assembly
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4Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been introduced in the Assembly. Introduced February 13, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Next likely step: a committee referral and hearing.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
LowHow often bills like it became law.
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Introduced
Current position in the legislative process.
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2 sponsors
1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (1 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 1 recorded vote so far.
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
In plain language
The bill requires registration and special license plates for class 2 and class 3 electric bicycles.
This bill mandates that class 2 and class 3 electric bicycles be registered with the DMV and display special license plates. It introduces penalties for violations and creates a fund for managing registration fees.
What this means for you
- Consumers: If you own a class 2 or class 3 electric bicycle, you will need to register it and obtain a special license plate.
Summary
Existing law prohibits a person from driving, moving, or leaving standing upon a highway, or in an offstreet public parking facility, any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole or pipe dolly, or logging dolly, unless it is registered and the appropriate fees have been paid, except as specified. Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles, upon registering a vehicle, to issue to the owner license plates that identify the vehicles for which they are issued for the period of their validity, as specified. Existing law also requires a motorized bicycle to display a special license plate issued by the department. Existing law authorizes a city or county to adopt a bicycle licensing ordinance or resolution, authorizes the licensing agency, by ordinance or resolution, to adopt rules and regulations for the collection of license fees, as specified, and sets the fee for each new bicycle license and registration certificate at a sum of no more than $4 per year. Existing law defines an electric bicycle as a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts, and classifies electric bicycles into 3 classes with different restrictions. This bill would require class 2 electric bicycles and class 3 electric bicycles to be registered with the department and to display a special license plate issued by the department. The bill would require the department to adopt regulations to implement these requirements, and would make a person operating a class 2 or class 3 electric bicycle in violation of these requirements guilty of an infraction punishable by specified fines. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would create the Electric Bicycle Registration Fund in the State Treasury, require all moneys received by the department pursuant to these provisions to be deposited in the fund, and require all moneys in the fund to be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the department for the administration of these provisions. The bill would also appropriate an unspecified sum of moneys from the General Fund to the Electric Bicycle Registration Fund as a loan for purposes of administering these provisions, as specified. 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. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
1 added · 1 removedPlain-language change summary
The updated version of Bill AB 1942 has added a new line of text that clarifies a specific requirement within the legislation. Additionally, there was a line removed that may have contained outdated information or was deemed unnecessary. These changes help ensure that the bill is clearer and more effective, making it easier for those affected to understand their rights and responsibilities. Overall, these adjustments aim to improve the bill’s implementation and impact.
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View plain text versions (2)
- Introduced 02/13/26 - Introduced Current pdf February 13, 2026
- AB1942 View text html
Action History
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In committee: Held under submission.
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Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 5030.)
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In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
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From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 20). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
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Coauthors revised.
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Referred to Com. on TRANS.
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From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.
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Read first time. To print.
Sponsors
- Laurie Davies · Cosponsor
- Rebecca Bauer-Kahan · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 120 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca Democratic
Co-sponsors (1)
- Davies, Laurie Republican
Not signed on (120)
120 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 120 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Republican | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 12 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| % of votes cast | 75% | 0% | 0% | 25% |
How each member voted (16)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Ávila Farías | — | Not Voting |
| Aguiar-Curry, Cecilia M. | Democratic | Yea |
| Ahrens, Patrick | Democratic | Yea |
| Carrillo, Juan | Democratic | Yea |
| Harabedian, John | Democratic | Yea |
| Hart, Gregg | Democratic | Yea |
| Jackson, Corey A. | Democratic | Yea |
| Papan, Diane | Democratic | Yea |
| Ransom, Rhodesia | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Rogers, Chris | Democratic | Yea |
| Sharp-Collins, LaShae | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Wilson, Lori D. | Democratic | Not Voting |
| Davies, Laurie | Republican | Yea |
| Hoover, Josh | Republican | Yea |
| Lackey, Tom | Republican | Yea |
| Macedo, Alexandra | Republican | Yea |
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does AB 1942 do?
- Existing law prohibits a person from driving, moving, or leaving standing upon a highway, or in an offstreet public parking facility, any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, pole or pipe dolly, or logging dolly, unless it is registered and the appropriate fees have been paid, except as specified. Existing law requires the Department of Motor Vehicles, upon registering a vehicle, to issue to the owner license plates that identify the vehicles for which they are issued for the period of their validity, as specified. Existing law also requires a motorized bicycle to display a special license plate issued by the department. Existing law authorizes a city or county to adopt a bicycle licensing ordinance or resolution, authorizes the licensing agency, by ordinance or resolution, to adopt rules and regulations for the collection of license fees, as specified, and sets the fee for each new bicycle license and registration certificate at a sum of no more than $4 per year. Existing law defines an electric bicycle as a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts, and classifies electric bicycles into 3 classes with different restrictions. This bill would require class 2 electric bicycles and class 3 electric bicycles to be registered with the department and to display a special license plate issued by the department. The bill would require the department to adopt regulations to implement these requirements, and would make a person operating a class 2 or class 3 electric bicycle in violation of these requirements guilty of an infraction punishable by specified fines. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would create the Electric Bicycle Registration Fund in the State Treasury, require all moneys received by the department pursuant to these provisions to be deposited in the fund, and require all moneys in the fund to be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the department for the administration of these provisions. The bill would also appropriate an unspecified sum of moneys from the General Fund to the Electric Bicycle Registration Fund as a loan for purposes of administering these provisions, as specified. 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. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
- Who sponsors AB 1942?
- AB 1942 is sponsored by Davies, Laurie (Republican) and Bauer-Kahan, Rebecca (Democratic).
- What is the current status of AB 1942?
- This bill has been introduced in the Assembly. Introduced February 13, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
- Where can I track AB 1942?
- Track AB 1942 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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