Florida Senate - 2026                                     SB 382
       
       
        
       By Senator Truenow
       
       
       
       
       
       13-00743-26                                            2026382__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to electric bicycles, scooters, and
    3         motorcycles; amending s. 316.003, F.S.; defining the
    4         term “electric motorcycle”; revising the definition of
    5         the term “motorcycle”; amending ss. 316.066 and
    6         316.068, F.S.; requiring certain crash reports to
    7         include specified information; amending s. 316.069,
    8         F.S.; requiring the state to maintain certain
    9         statistics; amending s. 316.20655, F.S.; providing
   10         penalties for knowingly modifying an electric bicycle;
   11         prohibiting a person from operating a class 3 electric
   12         bicycle without a certain license; providing
   13         requirements for such operation; providing penalties;
   14         amending s. 316.2085, F.S.; prohibiting certain
   15         persons from operating certain motorcycles; amending
   16         ss. 320.01 and 322.01, F.S.; revising the definition
   17         of the term “motorcycle”; amending s. 322.12, F.S.;
   18         requiring a minimum number of questions in the test
   19         bank for a Class E driver license to cover safe
   20         electric bicycle and motorized scooter operation;
   21         amending s. 322.1615, F.S.; revising requirements for
   22         a certain learner’s driver license education course;
   23         amending ss. 316.306 and 655.960, F.S.; conforming
   24         cross-references; providing an effective date.
   25          
   26  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   27  
   28         Section 1. Subsections (24) through (112) of section
   29  316.003, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (25)
   30  through (113), respectively, present subsections (47) and (65)
   31  are amended, and a new subsection (24) is added to that section,
   32  to read:
   33         316.003 Definitions.—The following words and phrases, when
   34  used in this chapter, shall have the meanings respectively
   35  ascribed to them in this section, except where the context
   36  otherwise requires:
   37         (24)ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE.—Any motorcycle powered by an
   38  electric motor of 750 watts or more that is capable of a speed
   39  greater than 28 miles per hour.
   40         (48)(47) MOTORCYCLE.—Any motor vehicle having a seat or
   41  saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not
   42  more than three wheels in contact with the ground. The term
   43  includes an electric motorcycle and an autocycle, but does not
   44  include a tractor, a moped, an electric bicycle, or any vehicle
   45  in which the operator is enclosed by a cabin unless it meets the
   46  requirements set forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety
   47  Administration for a motorcycle.
   48         (66)(65) PRIVATE ROAD OR DRIVEWAY.—Except as otherwise
   49  provided in paragraph (91)(b) (90)(b), any privately owned way
   50  or place used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having
   51  express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other
   52  persons.
   53         Section 2. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (1) of
   54  section 316.066, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   55         316.066 Written reports of crashes.—
   56         (1)
   57         (b) The Florida Traffic Crash Report, Long Form must
   58  include:
   59         1. The date, time, and location of the crash.
   60         2. A description of the vehicles involved, including
   61  whether the crash involved a motorized scooter, an electric
   62  bicycle, or an electric motorcycle.
   63         3. The names and addresses of the parties involved,
   64  including all drivers and passengers, and the identification of
   65  the vehicle in which each was a driver or a passenger.
   66         4. The names and addresses of witnesses.
   67         5. The name, badge number, and law enforcement agency of
   68  the officer investigating the crash.
   69         6. The names of the insurance companies for the respective
   70  parties involved in the crash.
   71         (c) In any crash for which a Florida Traffic Crash Report,
   72  Long Form is not required by this section and which occurs on
   73  the public roadways of this state, the law enforcement officer
   74  shall complete a short-form crash report or provide a driver
   75  exchange-of-information form, to be completed by all drivers and
   76  passengers involved in the crash, which requires the
   77  identification of each vehicle that the drivers and passengers
   78  were in. The short-form report must include:
   79         1. The date, time, and location of the crash.
   80         2. A description of the vehicles involved, including
   81  whether the crash involved a motorized scooter, an electric
   82  bicycle, or an electric motorcycle.
   83         3. The names and addresses of the parties involved,
   84  including all drivers and passengers, and the identification of
   85  the vehicle in which each was a driver or a passenger.
   86         4. The names and addresses of witnesses.
   87         5. The name, badge number, and law enforcement agency of
   88  the officer investigating the crash.
   89         6. The names of the insurance companies for the respective
   90  parties involved in the crash.
   91         Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 316.068, Florida
   92  Statutes, is amended to read:
   93         316.068 Crash report forms.—
   94         (2) Every crash report required to be made in writing must
   95  be made on the appropriate form approved by the department and
   96  must contain all the information required therein, including:
   97         (a) The date, time, and location of the crash;
   98         (b) A description of the vehicles involved, including
   99  whether the crash involved a motorized scooter, an electric
  100  bicycle, or an electric motorcycle;
  101         (c) The names and addresses of the parties involved;
  102  however, in the event of a crash involving a railroad train,
  103  including crashes covered by s. 316.027, s. 316.061, s. 316.065,
  104  or s. 316.066, the collection of the information specified in
  105  this paragraph shall be at the discretion of the law enforcement
  106  officer having jurisdiction to investigate the crash;
  107         (d) The names and addresses of all drivers and passengers
  108  in the motor vehicles involved; however, in the event of a crash
  109  involving a railroad train, including crashes covered by s.
  110  316.027, s. 316.061, s. 316.065, or s. 316.066, the collection
  111  of the information specified in this paragraph shall be at the
  112  discretion of the law enforcement officer having jurisdiction to
  113  investigate the crash;
  114         (e) The names and addresses of witnesses;
  115         (f) The name, badge number, and law enforcement agency of
  116  the officer investigating the crash; and
  117         (g) The names of the insurance companies of the motor
  118  vehicles involved in the crash,
  119  
  120  unless not available. A member of a railroad train crew or a
  121  passenger on a railroad train is not a passenger for purposes of
  122  this section. In the event of a crash involving a railroad
  123  train, a member of the railroad train crew must furnish the
  124  information in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (e) and, upon
  125  request of the law enforcement officer having jurisdiction to
  126  investigate the crash, the railroad train engineer’s or
  127  conductor’s federal certification pursuant to 49 C.F.R. part 240
  128  or part 242. The absence of information in such written crash
  129  reports regarding the existence of passengers in the motor
  130  vehicles involved in the crash constitutes a rebuttable
  131  presumption that no such passengers were involved in the
  132  reported crash. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
  133  section, a crash report produced electronically by a law
  134  enforcement officer must, at a minimum, contain the same
  135  information as is called for on those forms approved by the
  136  department.
  137         Section 4. Section 316.069, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  138  read:
  139         316.069 State to tabulate and analyze crash reports.—The
  140  state shall tabulate and may analyze all crash reports and shall
  141  publish, annually, or at more frequent intervals, statistical
  142  information based thereon as to the number and circumstances of
  143  traffic crashes. The state shall maintain separate statistics on
  144  the number and location of crashes involving tandem trailer
  145  trucks, motorized scooters, electric bicycles, and electric
  146  motorcycles.
  147         Section 5. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 316.20655,
  148  Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsections (10) and (11) are
  149  added to that section, to read:
  150         316.20655 Electric bicycle regulations.—
  151         (3) Beginning January 1, 2021, Manufacturers and
  152  distributors of electric bicycles shall apply a label that is
  153  permanently affixed in a prominent location to each electric
  154  bicycle. The label must contain the classification number, top
  155  assisted speed, and motor wattage of the electric bicycle.
  156         (4) A person may not tamper with or modify an electric
  157  bicycle so as to change the motor-powered speed capability or
  158  engagement of an electric bicycle. Any person who knowingly
  159  modifies an electric bicycle as provided in this subsection
  160  commits a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable by a fine
  161  of $100. Any person who commits a second or subsequent violation
  162  of this subsection within 3 years after a previous violation
  163  commits a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable by a fine
  164  of $250, unless the label indicating the classification number
  165  required in subsection (3) is replaced after such modification.
  166         (10)(a)A person may not operate or rent a class 3 electric
  167  bicycle unless he or she possesses a valid learner’s driver
  168  license or driver license. An operator of a class 3 electric
  169  bicycle must have his or her learner’s driver license or driver
  170  license in his or her immediate possession at all times when
  171  operating a class 3 electric bicycle and must present or submit
  172  the same upon demand of a law enforcement officer or an
  173  authorized representative of the department.
  174         (b)A person who fails to comply with paragraph (a) must
  175  first receive a verbal warning. Following the verbal warning, a
  176  person who fails to comply with paragraph (a) commits a
  177  noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a nonmoving
  178  violation as provided in chapter 318.
  179         (11)A person operating an electric bicycle on a shared
  180  pathway that is not located adjacent to a roadway, including a
  181  shared pathway located in a park or recreational area, must
  182  yield to pedestrians and must give an audible signal before
  183  overtaking and passing a pedestrian.
  184         Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section
  185  316.2085, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  186         316.2085 Riding on motorcycles or mopeds.—
  187         (6) A person under 16 years of age may not:
  188         (a) Operate a motorcycle that has a motor with more than
  189  150 cubic centimeters displacement or an electric motor of 750
  190  watts or more.
  191         Section 7. Subsection (26) of section 320.01, Florida
  192  Statutes, is amended to read:
  193         320.01 Definitions, general.—As used in the Florida
  194  Statutes, except as otherwise provided, the term:
  195         (26) “Motorcycle” means any motor vehicle having a seat or
  196  saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not
  197  more than three wheels in contact with the ground. The term
  198  includes an electric motorcycle and an autocycle, as those terms
  199  are defined in s. 316.003, but excludes a tractor, a moped, or
  200  any vehicle in which the operator is enclosed by a cabin unless
  201  it meets the requirements set forth by the National Highway
  202  Traffic Safety Administration for a motorcycle.
  203         Section 8. Subsection (28) of section 322.01, Florida
  204  Statutes, is amended to read:
  205         322.01 Definitions.—As used in this chapter:
  206         (28) “Motorcycle” means a motor vehicle powered by a motor
  207  with a displacement of more than 50 cubic centimeters, having a
  208  seat or saddle for the use of the rider, and designed to travel
  209  on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but
  210  excluding a tractor, tri-vehicle, or moped. The term includes an
  211  electric motorcycle as defined in s. 316.003.
  212         Section 9. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
  213  322.12, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  214         322.12 Examination of applicants.—
  215         (3) For an applicant for a Class E driver license, such
  216  examination shall include all of the following:
  217         (c) A test of the applicant’s ability to read and
  218  understand highway signs regulating, warning, and directing
  219  traffic; his or her knowledge of the traffic laws of this state,
  220  including laws regulating driving under the influence of alcohol
  221  or controlled substances, driving with an unlawful blood-alcohol
  222  level, and driving while intoxicated; and his or her knowledge
  223  of the effects of alcohol and controlled substances upon persons
  224  and the dangers of driving a motor vehicle while under the
  225  influence of alcohol or controlled substances. At least 25
  226  questions within the bank of test questions must address bicycle
  227  and pedestrian safety. At least 5 of the 25 questions addressing
  228  bicycle and pedestrian safety must specifically cover safe
  229  electric bicycle and motorized scooter operation for all road
  230  users.
  231         Section 10. Subsection (1) of section 322.1615, Florida
  232  Statutes, is amended to read:
  233         322.1615 Learner’s driver license.—
  234         (1) The department may issue a learner’s driver license to
  235  a person who is at least 15 years of age and who:
  236         (a) Has passed the written examination for a learner’s
  237  driver license;
  238         (b) Has passed the vision and hearing examination
  239  administered under s. 322.12;
  240         (c) Has satisfactorily completed a driver education course
  241  approved by the department which meets or exceeds the Department
  242  of Education Driver Education/Traffic Safety-Classroom 1900300
  243  course version description and which includes content on sharing
  244  the road with bicycles, including electric bicycles, motorized
  245  scooters, and other vulnerable road users; and
  246         (d) Meets all other requirements set forth in law and by
  247  rule of the department.
  248         Section 11. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
  249  316.306, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  250         316.306 School and work zones; prohibition on the use of a
  251  wireless communications device in a handheld manner.—
  252         (3)(a)1. A person may not operate a motor vehicle while
  253  using a wireless communications device in a handheld manner in a
  254  designated school crossing, school zone, or work zone area as
  255  defined in s. 316.003 s. 316.003(112). This subparagraph applies
  256  shall only be applicable to work zone areas if construction
  257  personnel are present or are operating equipment on the road or
  258  immediately adjacent to the work zone area. For the purposes of
  259  this paragraph, a motor vehicle that is stationary is not being
  260  operated and is not subject to the prohibition in this
  261  paragraph.
  262         2. Effective January 1, 2020, A law enforcement officer may
  263  stop motor vehicles and issue citations to persons who are
  264  driving while using a wireless communications device in a
  265  handheld manner in violation of subparagraph 1.
  266         Section 12. Subsection (1) of section 655.960, Florida
  267  Statutes, is amended to read:
  268         655.960 Definitions; ss. 655.960-655.965.—As used in this
  269  section and ss. 655.961-655.965, unless the context otherwise
  270  requires:
  271         (1) “Access area” means any paved walkway or sidewalk which
  272  is within 50 feet of any automated teller machine. The term does
  273  not include any street or highway open to the use of the public,
  274  as defined in s. 316.003(91)(a) or (b) s. 316.003(90)(a) or (b),
  275  including any adjacent sidewalk, as defined in s. 316.003.
  276         Section 13. This act shall take effect July 1, 2027.