A bike with pedals and a motor is no longer automatically an e-bike in Washington. That is the practical result of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6110, Chapter 159, Laws of 2026.
Governor’s signature came March 23, 2026. The main provisions took effect June 11. Police around the state are now enforcing it, as The Bainbridge Island Review reported on October 14. If you ride, or you are shopping for a teenager, here is what changed.
Where the e-bike line sits now
The old definition still stands. An e-bike has two or three wheels, a saddle, working pedals and a motor of 750 watts or less. The three classes also stay as they were.
| Class | Motor help | Assist ends at | Extra rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pedal-assist only | 20 mph | Shared paths allowed unless locally restricted |
| 2 | Throttle allowed | 20 mph | Same path access as Class 1 |
| 3 | Pedal-assist only | 28 mph | Speedometer required; under-16s barred |
The new part is two exclusions. A vehicle is out of the e-bike category if its motor alone can push it past 20 mph. It is also out if the maker or seller designed or intended it to be easily set up so it stops meeting e-bike rules.
The law lists a toggle, a firmware setting and a phone app as examples of that kind of workaround. Anything that falls outside is treated as an electric motorcycle.
Who feels it first
If you ride a normal Class 1 or Class 2 bike, almost nothing changes. You still need no driver’s license, no registration and no plate. That answers the question many Washington riders ask about pedal e-bikes.
Teens and their parents are the target. The Review describes the motorcycle route as a license with a motorcycle endorsement, plus registration, plates and insurance. Riders under 16 cannot operate those machines on public roads, sidewalks or paths.
The state already barred under-16s from Class 3 bikes. Class 3 also stays off sidewalks unless there is no other way through. It stays off shared-use paths unless the local government says otherwise.
Sellers are affected too. New e-bikes sold in the state must carry a permanent label with the class, top assisted speed and motor wattage. Changing a bike’s speed capability without updating that label is prohibited.
What enforcement looks like
Kitsap County’s sheriff and local police are handing out warnings and enforcing the rules, the Review says. A violating bike can be impounded. After two offenses it can be forfeited. A parent who lets an unauthorized minor ride can get a misdemeanor citation.
In the Tacoma area, police and the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office say they are pairing education with citations and impounds. Tacoma was where the push began, after kids on electric dirt bikes started showing up on city streets. A sheriff’s spokesperson called losing the vehicle among the strongest deterrents.
The injury numbers explain the urgency. Harborview Medical Center’s count of severe e-bike and e-scooter injuries rose from 29 in 2020 to 171 in 2024. It reached 252 in 2025, with 6 deaths, and 97 more from January through May 2026. Those figures combine scooters and bikes, so they do not isolate one vehicle type.
Checks before you buy or hand over a bike
- Find the label. It should show class, top assisted speed and wattage. If it’s missing or unreadable, ask the seller for paperwork before paying.
- Ask about modes. A throttle that pushes past 20 mph, or an app that lifts the limit, puts the bike outside the definition.
- Match age to class. A 15-year-old cannot legally ride a Class 3.
- Check local rules. Cities, parks and trail managers can add limits on top of the state’s.
- Keep your records. Save the receipt, label photos and app settings. They help if you ever need to show what you bought, or if a crash leads to a claim.
Bainbridge Island also runs a voucher program worth up to $1,500 per resident. This year 41 vouchers went out and 20 were redeemed. If you use one, confirm the class label before you commit. For a wider look at licensing across states, see our guide on whether you need a license for an e-bike.
Why the “easily configured” wording matters
Most of the new law restates old rules. The language about what a seller intended is the real shift. It treats a bike’s marketing and its settings menu as part of the bike.
I think that is the right target. Plenty of fast bikes were sold as e-bikes on a technicality, with a speed limit one tap away. A parent standing in a shop could not tell the difference. Now the burden moves toward sellers and makers.
It also fits a pattern. States are drawing sharper lines between bicycles and motor vehicles, each in its own way. California’s AB 2346 and AB 2595 are one example. Ohio’s SB 477 age-limit bill is another. Next door, Oregon’s e-bike rules set their own age and helmet lines, so crossing the Columbia can change what applies.
If I were shopping in Washington, I’d stick with a clearly labeled Class 1 or 2 bike. I’d skip anything sold with a “race” or “off-road” mode that changes top speed. For a teen, I’d treat Class 1 as the default and ask whether the school route really needs more.
Still open: the motorcycle rules
The Department of Licensing must convene a work group on electric motorcycles. It will look at registration and license fees, driver education, minimum ages and penalties. That includes penalties for 12-to-16-year-olds, for adults who supply these machines to kids under 16, and for deceptive marketing and tampering.
Its interim report, with draft legislation, is due December 15, 2026. The final report is due October 31, 2027. Those dates are deadlines, not new rules. Nothing from that group is law yet.
That leaves real questions. The Review describes registration and plates for faster machines, while the work group is studying registration. Confirm the current requirement with the Department of Licensing before you buy one. We also don’t yet know how courts and police will read “easily configured” for borderline bikes. I’d expect the rules to tighten again after the December report. The full bill history is on the Washington Legislature’s SB 6110 page.
Photo: LACMTA Bike Share electric bicycle – non-drive side by Facewizard, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped.
