This bill amends Washington law definitions in chapter 46.04 RCW and adds a new statutory definition. It revises the definition of "electric-assisted bicycle" to limit the motor to no more than 750 watts and retain three class distinctions with speed-related limits and a class 3 speedometer requirement. It adds a new definition of "electric motorcycle" (an electrically powered motorcycle meeting one or more of four specified criteria related to pedals, motor power, and speed-assist behavior) and amends the definition of "motorcycle" to explicitly include electric motorcycles while excluding listed devices such as power wheelchairs, electric-assisted bicycles, and mopeds. The bill amends RCW 46.04.169 and 46.04.330 and adds a new section to chapter 46.04 RCW (identified in the bill as Sec. 2, Sec. 4, and Sec. 5). The bill creates a procedural requirement directing the Department of Licensing to convene and staff a work group (and to contract with a third-party consultant if needed) to study enforcement, penalties, consumer protections, and vehicle classification/marketing issues related to electric motorcycles and similar vehicles. The work group must include representatives or designees from the Department of Transportation, Washington Traffic Safety Commission, Washington State Patrol, Cooper Jones Active Transportation Safety Council, Association of Washington Cities, Washington State Association of Counties, nonprofit active transportation or e-bike safety organizations, trails organizations representing nonmotorized users, and a nonprofit motorcycle organization or rider, among others. The group must submit a final report with recommendations or draft legislation to the governor and the legislature’s transportation committees by December 15, 2026; the provision creating the work group (Section 4) is declared an emergency and takes effect immediately. This bill primarily makes statutory definition changes and imposes a procedural study obligation; it does not itself create new crimes or set new penalties or enforcement mechanisms. The extracted text does not specify effective dates for the other amended or added sections, and the full text of the existing RCWs cited is not included here. The bill directs possible future recommendations (including draft legislation) but does not itself establish new civil infractions or penalties in the provided excerpts.

If enacted, the bill narrows and clarifies what counts as an electric-assisted bicycle (motor limit set at 750 watts and three class/speed categories) and creates a statutory category called “electric motorcycle” for vehicles lacking pedals, having motors over 750 watts, or capable of propelling the vehicle above the electric-bike speed thresholds. Practically, that means manufacturers, sellers, and riders of higher-powered or faster twoand three-wheeled electric vehicles will likely be treated under motorcycle law rather than as e-bikes, which can affect licensing, equipment requirements, where the vehicles may be used, and how they are marketed — but the bill does not itself set new penalties or operational rules, so the exact regulatory and enforcement consequences remain uncertain until the work group or future legislation acts. The Department of Licensing must immediately convene and staff a multi-stakeholder work group (and may hire a consultant) to study enforcement, penalties, consumer protections, and classification/marketing, with a report due by December 15, 2026. That creates near-term costs and staff time for the Department and for participating state agencies, local governments, courts, safety organizations, and industry or advocacy groups; it also means stakeholders should expect recommended rule or law changes to emerge from the work group rather than immediate changes to fines or operational rules.