SB 576 North Carolina Senate · 2025-2026 Session

E-Bike Definition and Local Regulation.

Senate Bill 576 redefines electric assisted bicycles into three distinct classes based on their motor assistance and speed capabilities. The bill permits e-bikes on most roadways and paths, but requires helmets for Class 3 e-bike riders and passengers. It also grants cities and counties the authority to regulate e-bike use within their jurisdictions, allowing them to restrict certain classes on specific paths, set speed limits, and require helmets for Class 1 or 2 e-bikes. Finally, the Department of Transportation is tasked with developing educational materials on e-bike safety.

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 25, 2025 Last action May 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Edition 1 → Edition 2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was revised from its first edition to a second edition with significant changes to helmet requirements and formatting. The most important substantive change is that helmet mandates for Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are now limited to riders under age 18, whereas the original version would have required helmets for all riders of those classes. The bill also defines electric assisted bicycles and authorizes local governments to regulate their use.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on clarifying e-bike definitions and authorizing local regulation, but the applicability of helmet requirements was narrowed to only affect riders under 18 years old for Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes.

REQUIREMENT

Helmet requirement for Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes was changed from applying to all riders to only applying to persons under the age of 18.

Class 3 e-bike helmet requirement was modified to apply to persons under 18, matching the change for Class 1 and 2 bikes.

DEFINITION

The definition of Electric Assisted Bicycle was retained with three classes (Class 1, 2, and 3) based on motor power and speed limits.

TECHNICAL

Added 'State and Local Government Committee Substitute Adopted 5/6/25' designation and updated version numbers from v-1 to v-2.

Removed original sponsor names (Senators Lee and Lazzara) and referred to section headers in the header area.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 6, 2025

Committee

Re-ref Com On Transportation

upper

May 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Com Substitute Adopted

upper

May 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reptd Fav Com Substitute

upper

Apr 28, 2025

Committee

Re-ref to State and Local Government. If fav, re-ref to Transportation. If fav, re-ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Committee

Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

upper

Mar 25, 2025

Introduced

Filed

upper

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors