Utah’s HB 381: Proposed Updates to Utah’s Electric Bicycle Laws

Utah lawmakers are considering new legislation that would update how electric bicycles and other electric mobility devices are regulated in the state.

House Bill 381 (HB 381) proposes several changes to improve safety, clarify definitions, and address confusion about high-powered electric devices often marketed as e-bikes.

Importantly, the bill does not eliminate Utah’s current e-bike framework. The familiar three-class e-bike system would remain in place, and compliant electric bicycles would continue to be treated largely the same as traditional bicycles under Utah traffic law.

Instead, HB 381 primarily clarifies definitions, strengthens enforcement tools, and adds new safety rules for certain riders.

As of March 2026, HB 381 is proposed legislation and has not yet been enacted into law.

Current Utah E-Bike Laws

The Utah Motor Vehicle Code currently defines an electric-assisted bicycle (e-bike) as a bicycle equipped with an electric motor that still functions like a traditional bicycle.

Definition of an E-Bike in Utah

To qualify as an electric-assisted bicycle in Utah, the device must:

• Have fully operable pedals
  
• Have a motor of 750 watts or less
  
• Be capable of operating without the motor engaged
  
  

The Three-Class E-Bike System

Utah uses the standard three-class system:

• Class 1: Pedal assist only, assistance stops at 20 mph
  
• Class 2: Throttle allowed, assistance stops at 20 mph
  
• Class 3: Pedal assist only, assistance stops at 28 mph, and the bike must have a speedometer
  
  

E-bikes that meet these requirements are generally treated the same as bicycles. Riders do not need a driver's license, vehicle registration, or insurance.

Age Restrictions

Current Utah law also includes a few restrictions for younger riders:

• Riders under 16 may not operate a Class 3 e-bike
  
• Riders under 14 must be supervised by a parent or guardian when using the motor
  
• Children under 8 may not operate any e-bike
  
  

Local Trail and Path Rules

Local governments may regulate where e-bikes can be used on sidewalks, shared paths, and trails.

Proposed Changes Under Utah’s HB 381

HB 381 keeps the existing e-bike classification system but introduces several updates intended to clarify how electric mobility devices are regulated. Many safety and bicycle advocates, such as Bike Utah, support this legislation. 

New Electric Mobility Device Definitions

One of the bill’s most significant changes is the introduction of new terminology for electric mobility devices that are NOT standard e-bikes.

Electric Motorcycle

HB 381 clarifies that a motorcycle may be powered by either a combustion engine or an electric motor. Electric motorcycles that exceed legal e-bike limits are treated the same as traditional motorcycles under Utah motor vehicle law and require licensing and registration. 

High-Power Electric Device

The bill also introduces a category called a high-power electric device. This category is intended to capture electric vehicles that exceed the legal limits of an electric-assisted bicycle but are often marketed as e-bikes. Many high-speed electric dirt bikes and throttle-powered devices fall into this category.

Devices capable of exceeding 20 mph using motor power alone would fall outside the legal definition of an electric-assisted bicycle.

A recent case in California highlights the risks lawmakers are trying to address. A father was charged with felony child endangerment after his 12-year-old son was critically injured while riding a modified electric motorcycle on a public street. Investigators determined the vehicle was not a legal e-bike, but one of many e-motos masquerading as e-bikes.

Clarification of What Qualifies as an E-Bike

HB 381 reinforces the existing requirements for electric-assisted bicycles, including the 750-watt motor limit and pedal requirement.

A key clarification in the bill is that motor power alone cannot propel the device beyond 20 mph. An e-bike may exceed 20 mph only when the rider is pedaling, such as with a Class 3 pedal-assist e-bike that reaches speeds up to 28 mph.

Programmable Electric Assisted Bicycles

Some modern e-bikes allow riders to switch between operating modes. HB 381 clarifies that programmable e-bikes must fully comply with the rules of the class in which they are operating at any given time.

This provision is intended to address devices that can temporarily exceed legal speed limits through software settings.

Helmet Requirement for Riders Under 21

Under the proposal, riders under 21 must wear a helmet when operating certain electric mobility devices on public roads. The requirement does not apply to shared paths, trails, or bike-share programs.

The bill also clarifies that failure to wear a helmet cannot be used to reduce compensation in a civil injury claim.

Helmet laws in the United States remain a topic of ongoing debate among lawmakers and safety advocates. You can learn more about this policy discussion in our article: The Bicycle Helmet Law Debate: Why the U.S. Lacks a National Mandate

Electric Mobility Safety Certificate

HB 381 would also create a new electric mobility safety certificate program.

Under the proposal:

• Riders under 18 must complete the safety course when riding on public roads
• Adults without a driver's license must also complete the course

The course is expected to be an online safety program, similar to hunter education or boating safety courses, intended to teach riders without a driver’s license basic traffic laws and safe riding practices.

Restrictions on Modifying E-Bikes

The bill also addresses concerns about riders modifying electric bicycles to increase speed or power output.

HB 381 would make it unlawful to tamper with or modify an e-bike beyond the manufacturer’s original settings.

Violations could result in fines:

• $100 for a first offense
• $250 for subsequent offenses

Alcohol and Open Container Rules

HB 381 would expand existing alcohol restrictions by making it unlawful to consume alcohol or possess an open container while operating any electric-assisted bicycle on a public road.

Previously, this restriction applied only to certain classes of electric devices.

Enforcement Authority for Minors

The bill would also give law enforcement officers additional authority in cases involving minors.

If a rider under 18 commits a violation, a peace officer may temporarily hold the electric mobility device and release it only to a parent or guardian.

This provision is intended to discourage unsafe or illegal riding and involve parents when violations occur.

Seller Disclosure Requirements

HB 381 also targets confusion in the marketplace surrounding electric mobility devices. Sellers of high-powered electric devices that are not legal e-bikes would be required to clearly disclose that:

• The vehicle is not an electric-assisted bicycle, and
  
• It may be subject to motor vehicle laws, including registration or insurance requirements.

What HB 381 Does Not Change

Despite the updates, the bill leaves several important aspects of Utah’s e-bike laws unchanged.

HB 381 does not:

• Require insurance for legal e-bikes
• Require vehicle registration
• Require a driver's license
• Eliminate the three-class e-bike system
• Re-classify legal e-bikes as motor vehicles

Electric-assisted bicycles that meet Utah’s existing definition would continue to be treated largely the same as traditional bicycles under state law.

New Jersey has taken an even more aggressive approach. The state’s newly signed 2026 e-bike law has sparked widespread controversy across the cycling industry, advocacy community, and mobility sector because it eliminates the long-standing three-class e-bike framework.

Instead, the law replaces it with a restrictive motor-vehicle-style regulatory system that treats many electric bicycles more like mopeds, requiring licensing, registration, and insurance. 

Final Thoughts

HB 381 represents a responsible legislative effort to further clarify the definitions, rules, and restrictions for electric mobility devices. By separating electric-assisted bicycles, high-power electric devices, and electric motorcycles, the legislature is trying to close regulatory gaps that have created confusion for everyone.

As the law continues to evolve, riders should pay close attention to how these devices are defined and regulated. We will continue monitoring HB 381 and future legislation affecting cyclists and e-bike riders across Utah.

Bike Legal: Advocating for Cyclists’ Rights and Safety

At   Bike Legal, we support smart legislation that improves safety while protecting the freedom to ride a bicycle.

Bike Legal represents all cyclists and e-bike riders who have been injured by negligent drivers or unsafe road conditions.  If you or a loved one has been hurt in a bicycle or e-bike crash, our legal team is here to help.

📞 Call 877-BIKE-LEGAL (877-245-3534)

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with an experienced Utah bicycle accident attorney.

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