Washington Just Said Some "E-Bikes" Aren’t E-Bikes Anymore
Nothing changes for riders on the Burke-Gilman or any other Washington trail -- the new law isn't aimed at them.
If you ride a Class 1, 2, or 3 e-bike in Washington, you can stop worrying right now: nothing about your bike changed on June 11. What changed is which vehicles get to call themselves e-bikes in the first place -- and it's aimed squarely at the throttle-only machines that can hit 30+ mph and have been showing up in driveways disguised as bicycles.
What ESSB 6110 actually does
Washington's ESSB 6110 took effect June 11, 2026. It doesn't touch the existing three-class e-bike system -- Class 1 and 2 still top out at 20 mph, Class 3 still pedal-assists to 28 mph with a speedometer required, and the 750-watt motor limit is unchanged. No new license, registration, or insurance for any of that.
What's new: the law excludes from the e-bike definition any vehicle capable of exceeding 20 mph on electric power alone, with no pedaling required -- plus machines "designed or intended to be easily reconfigured" to blow past e-bike limits after sale.
In plain terms: if it can do real motorcycle speeds on a twist of the throttle, or it's built to be tuned past 20 mph in five minutes with a forum post and a screwdriver, Washington no longer considers it an e-bike. It's something else -- and the rules for that "something else" are still being written.
Read the law breakdown on icebike.org →Who this is actually for
This wasn't written with commuters or trail riders in mind -- it's a response to electric motorcycles being marketed and sold as "e-bikes," often to teenagers and young adults, with none of the licensing or safety framework that real motorcycles require. The law orders the Department of Licensing to convene a work group studying definitions, licensing, registration, and enforcement for that category, with interim findings due December 15, 2026. Expect more specifics later this year, not a final answer today.
If you're shopping for or already riding a standard Class 1-3 e-bike from a legitimate dealer, this law is background noise. If you're eyeing one of the 40+ mph "e-bikes" sold mostly online with vague class labeling, it's worth a second look before you buy in Washington.
Riding in Washington?
See the full class-by-class breakdown of Washington's e-bike rules, or find a verified shop near you.
Washington E-Bike Laws Guide → Browse Washington Shops →Also see: eBike Laws in All 50 States