North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina Senate Bill S576 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	S 1
4		-	SENATE BILL 576
	3	+	S D
	4	+	SENATE BILL DRS45268-MW-66
	5	+
5	6
6	7
7	8		Short Title: E-Bike Definition and Local Regulation. (Public)
8	9		Sponsors: Senators Lee and Lazzara (Primary Sponsors).
9		-	Referred to: ~~Rules and Operations of the Senate~~
10		-	~~March 26, 2025~~
11		-	~~S576 -v-1~~
	10	+	Referred to:
	11	+
	12	+	DRS45268 -MW-66
12	13		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
13	14		AN ACT TO CLARIFY THE DEFINITION OF ELECTRIC ASSISTED BICYCLE AND TO 2
14	15		AUTHORIZE LOCAL GOVERNMENT REGULATION . 3
15	16		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
16	17		SECTION 1. G.S. 20-4.01(7a) reads as rewritten: 5
17	18		"(7a) Electric Assisted Bicycle. – A bicycle with two or three wheels that is 6
18	19		equipped with a seat or saddle for use by the rider, fully operable pedals for 7
19	20		human propulsion, and an electric motor of no more than 750 watts, whose 8
20	21		maximum speed on a level surface when powered solely by such a motor is 9
21	22		no greater than 20 miles per hour.watts that meets the requirements of one of 10
22	23		the following three classes: 11
23	24		a. Class 1 electric assisted bicycle. – A bicycle equipped with a motor 12
24	25		that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to 13
25	26		assist once the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 miles per hour. 14
26	27		b. Class 2 electric assisted bicycle. – A bicycle equipped with a motor 15
27	28		that may propel the bicycle without pedaling but ceases to assist once 16
28	29		the bicycle reaches a speed of 20 miles per hour. 17
29	30		c. Class 3 electric assisted bicycle. – A bicycle equipped with a motor 18
30	31		that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to 19
31	32		assist once the bicycle reaches a speed of 28 miles per hour." 20
32	33		SECTION 2. Article 3 of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 21
33	34		a new section to read: 22
34	35		"§ 20-171.3. Electric bicycles. 23
35	36		(a) Except as otherwise provided in G.S. 160A-300.2 and G.S. 153A-245.1, the operation 24
36	37		of an electric assisted bicycle as defined in G.S. 20-4.01 shall be permitted on all roadways, 25
37	38		bicycle lanes, and shared-use paths. 26
38	39		(b) A person operating or riding as a passenger on a Class 3 electric assisted bicycle shall 27
39	40		wear a helmet that meets federal safety standards." 28
40	41		SECTION 3.(a) Article 15 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes is amended by 29
41	42		adding a new section to read: 30
42	43		"§ 160A-300.2. Electric bicycles. 31
43	44		(a) A city may regulate the use of electric assisted bicycles on any street, road, or highway 32
44	45		within municipal limits. This authority shall include the following: 33
45	46		(1) Restricting the use of a class or classes of electric assisted bicycles on multiuse 34
46	47		paths, sidewalks, or trails. 35
47		-	(2) Establishing speed limits on greenways or shared-use paths. 36 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
48		-	Page 2 Senate Bill 576-First Edition
	48	+	(2) Establishing speed limits on greenways or shared-use paths. 36
	49	+	FILED SENATE
	50	+	Mar 25, 2025
	51	+	S.B. 576
	52	+	PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	53	+	Page 2 DRS45268-MW-66
49	54		(b) A city may require the use of a helmet by a person operating or riding as a passenger 1
50	55		on a Class 1 or Class 2 electric assisted bicycle. 2
51	56		(c) A city may impose penalties for violations of this section." 3
52	57		SECTION 3.(b) Article 12 of Chapter 153A of the General Statutes is amended by 4
53	58		adding a new section to read: 5
54	59		"§ 153A-245.1. Regulation of electric bicycles. 6
55	60		A county may regulate the use of an electric assisted bicycle in accordance with 7
56	61		G.S. 160A-300.2. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to restrict or repeal the authority of a 8
57	62		city to regulate the use of an electric assisted bicycle." 9
58	63		SECTION 4. The Department of Transportation shall develop educational materials 10
59	64		on the proper use and safety considerations of electric assisted bicycles. 11
60	65		SECTION 5. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to all electric 12
61	66		assisted bicycle riders and passengers on or after that date. 13