New E-Bike Legislation That Includes Mandatory License Plates Panned by Bike Safety Advocates

California lawmakers have introduced Assembly Bill 1942, also known as the E-Bike Accountability Act, as part of the 2025-26 legislative session. Sponsored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda), the bill would require owners of Class 2 and Class 3 electric bicycles to register those bikes with the California Department of Motor Vehicles and display a special license plate issued by the DMV. Under the bill’s language, riders would also need to carry proof of ownership matching the bike’s serial number, and enforcement officers could issue fines if these requirements aren’t met. AB 1942 would create an Electric Bicycle Registration Fund to manage revenues and enforce compliance, although it would also appropriate initial funding from the state General Fund.