ASSEMBLY TRANSPORTATION AND INDEPENDENT
AUTHORITIES COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
ASSEMBLY, No. 5295
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: FEBRUARY 13, 2025
The Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities
Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments
Assembly Bill No. 5295.
As amended and reported, this bill requires a person seeking to
sell, lease, rent, or otherwise distribute, or offer for sale, lease,
rental, or distribution, a class 1 electric bicycle, a class 2 electric
bicycle, or a motorized bicycle to ensure that the storage battery
used in such bicycle has been tested by an accredited testing
laboratory for compliance with certain standards, as outlined in the
bill. The bill also requires a person seeking to sell, lease, rent, or
otherwise distribute, or offer for sale, lease, rental, or distribution, a
storage battery used in a class 1 electric bicycle, a class 2 electric
bicycle, or a motorized bicycle to ensure that the storage battery has
been tested by an accredited testing laboratory for compliance with
certain standards, as outlined in the bill, and that the battery is
designed for a class 1 electric bicycle, a class 2 electric bicycle, or a
motorized bicycle. Under the bill, a person seeking to rent or offer
for rental a charging system for a class 1 electric bicycle, a class 2
electric bicycle, a motorized bicycle, or a storage battery is required
to ensure that the charging system has been tested by an accredited
testing laboratory for compliance with certain standards, as outlined
in the bill.
In addition, the bill requires charging systems used for a class 1
electric bicycle, a class 2 electric bicycle, a motorized bicycle, or a
storage battery to be certified for use with such bicycles and storage
batteries. The bill requires a class 1 electric bicycle, a class 2
electric bicycle, a motorized bicycle, a storage battery, or a
charging system to display the logo, wordmark, label, or name of
the accredited testing laboratory and the applicable certification
standard before being sold, leased, or distributed or offered for sale,
lease, or distribution.
Under the provisions of the bill, a manufacturer, importer,
distributor, or retailer of class 1 electric bicycles, class 2 electric
bicycles, motorized bicycles, charging systems, or storage batteries 2
that are subject to testing under the bill is required to provide, upon
request, a true and accurate copy of the test report for the product
issued by the accredited testing laboratory.
The bill further requires an individual seeking to sell, lease, or
otherwise distribute, or offer for sale, lease, or distribution, a class 1
electric bicycle, a class 2 electric bicycle, a motorized bicycle, or a
storage battery to comply with the testing and certification
requirements established pursuant to the bill by January 1, 2026.
An individual seeking to rent or offer for rental a class 1 electric
bicycle, a class 2 electric bicycle, a motorized bicycle, a storage
battery, or a charging system is required to comply with the testing
and certification requirements established pursuant to the bill by
January 1, 2028.
The bill also requires the State Fire Marshal to prepare and adopt
regulations that promote the fire and electrical safety of class 1
electric bicycles, class 2 electric bicycles, motorized bicycles, and
storage batteries.
In addition, the bill amends current law to make certain changes
to the classification of electric bicycles. Under current law, “low-
speed electric bicycle” is a statutorily defined term that
encompasses both “class 1” and “class 2” electric bicycles. This
bill separates the definition of “low-speed electric bicycle” into two
distinct defined terms: (1) a “class 1 electric bicycle” means a two-
wheeled vehicle with fully-operable pedals; a saddle or seat for the
rider; and an electric motor of less than 750 watts that provides
assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide
assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour;
and (2) a “class 2 electric bicycle” means a two-wheeled vehicle
with fully-operable pedals; a saddle or seat for the rider; and an
electric motor of less than 750 watts that may be used exclusively to
propel the bicycle and is not capable of providing assistance when
the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
The bill also amends current law to apply the provisions of
N.J.S.A.39:4-14.16 and N.J.S.A.39:4-92.4 to both class 1 electric
bicycles and class 2 electric bicycles. In addition, the bill provides
that any class 1 electric bicycle or class 2 electric bicycle sold,
leased, or rented in the State is to comply with the equipment and
manufacturing requirements for bicycles established by the United
States Consumer Product Safety Commission pursuant to federal
regulations.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS :
The committee amended the bill to:
(1) replace the definition of “low-speed electric bicycle” in
N.J.S.A.39:1-1 with two distinct definitions for “class 1 electric
bicycle” and “class 2 electric bicycle,” respectively; 3
(2) replace all references to “low-speed electric bicycle” in
N.J.S.A.39:1-1, N.J.S.A.39:4-14.16, and N.J.S.A.39:4-92.4 with “class
1 electric bicycle” and “class 2 electric bicycle”;
(3) require class 1 and class 2 electric bicycles sold, leased, or
rented in the State to comply with certain federal equipment and
manufacturing regulations for bicycles;
(4) clarify that, pursuant to N.J.S.A.39:4-14.16, the label
containing the classification number, top-assisted speed, and motor
wattage of a class 1 or class 2 electric bicycle is to be permanently
affixed, in a prominent location, to the frame of each class 1 or class 2
electric bicycle;
(5) clarify that those provisions in the bill that regulate the sale,
lease, rental, or distribution of “low-speed electric bicycles” now apply
to the newly defined terms of “class 1 electric bicycles” and “class 2
electric bicycles”;
(6) remove a provision that provides that a motorized bicycle with
an electric motor is not to have a motor that is capable of exclusively
propelling the bicycle and removes a provision that requires a
motorized bicycle with an electric motor to have a maximum motor-
powered speed of no more than 28 miles per hour;
(7) update the bill’s title and synopsis; and
(8) make technical changes to the bill.