House File 74 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 74 BY GUSTOFF A BILL FOR An Act relating to the maximum power output for low-speed 1 electric bicycles and pedestrian conveyances powered by an 2 electric motor. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 1849YH (2) 91 th/ns
H.F. 74 Section 1. Section 321.1, subsection 36A, unnumbered 1 paragraph 1, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows: 2 Low-speed electric bicycle means a device having equipped 3 with a saddle or seat for the use of a rider, two or three 4 wheels , equipped with fully operable pedals, and an electric 5 motor of less than that produces not more than seven hundred 6 fifty watts that meets , and is classified in accordance with 7 the following requirements of one of the following classes : 8 Sec. 2. Section 321.1, subsection 51A, Code 2025, is amended 9 to read as follows: 10 51A. Pedestrian conveyance means any human-powered device 11 by which a pedestrian may move other than by walking or by 12 which a pedestrian may move another person, including but not 13 limited to a wheelchair, stroller, skateboard, scooter, or 14 other similar device. Pedestrian conveyance also includes 15 an electric personal assistive mobility device and any other 16 device used to move a person sitting or standing on the device 17 regardless of whether the device is powered by an electric 18 motor, so long as the electric motor produces less not more 19 than seven hundred fifty watts. Pedestrian conveyance does 20 not include a bicycle. 21 EXPLANATION 22 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 23 the explanations substance by the members of the general assembly. 24 This bill relates to the authorized maximum power produced 25 by electric motors on low-speed electric bicycles and 26 pedestrian conveyances. Current law limits the output of such 27 electric motors to less than 750 watts. The bill instead 28 authorizes such electric motors to produce not more than 750 29 watts. If an electric motor produces more than 750 watts and 30 is attached to what would otherwise be considered a low-speed 31 electric bicycle or personal conveyance, the provisions of Code 32 chapter 321 (motor vehicles and law of the road) relating to 33 vehicles, motor vehicles, automobiles, cars, motorcycles, and 34 motorized bicycles are applicable to such vehicles. 35 -1- LSB 1849YH (2) 91 th/ns 1/ 1