Massachusetts E-Bike and Moped Law Changes: What Has Passed and What Is Pending (S.3168)
By Christopher Murphy, Esq., Managing Partner at Scalli Murphy Law | Updated November 2026
Massachusetts has already changed its e-bike, moped, and insurance rules several times since 2022, and those changes are law today. The larger overhaul people are talking about, Senate bill S.3168, is not law. As of November 1, 2026, it was reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Transportation on July 6, 2026, sent to Senate Ways and Means, and has had no further action.
This article separates the two. Part 1 covers what has actually changed. Part 2 covers what is pending and what it would mean for riders if it passes. If you ride today, follow current law, not the bill.
Part 1: What Has Already Changed
2022: Massachusetts created an e-bike law (St. 2022, c. 176)
Chapter 176 of the Acts of 2022, approved August 10, 2022, gave Massachusetts its first real e-bike law. It did three main things.
It defined an electric bicycle. Under M.G.L. c. 90, § 1, an e-bike is “a bicycle or tricycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of 750 watts or less that meets the requirements of a class 1 electric bicycle or a class 2 electric bicycle.” Class 1 bikes assist only while you pedal and stop assisting at 20 mph. Class 2 bikes can run on the motor alone but cannot assist above 20 mph. There is no Class 3 in Massachusetts law. A 28 mph e-bike does not meet the Massachusetts definition.
It kept e-bikes out of the motor vehicle and moped categories. The definition of “motor vehicles” “shall not include electric bicycles or motorized bicycles,” and the moped definition (the statute calls a moped a “motorized bicycle”) expressly “shall not include an electric bicycle.”
It set the riding rules. M.G.L. c. 85, § 11B3/4 gives e-bike riders “all of the rights and privileges” and “all of the duties” of a bicycle rider, “provided, however, that electric bicycles shall not be ridden or operated on sidewalks.” Cities, towns, and agencies may regulate or prohibit e-bikes on bike paths after public notice and a hearing, including setting speed limits. E-bikes must carry a label showing “the classification number, top assisted speed and motor wattage,” and you may not tamper with the bike to change its speed unless you replace the label. Massachusetts law does not require an e-bike to be registered or insured, and does not require a license to ride one.
For the full set of e-bike riding rules, see our guide to Massachusetts e-bike laws.
January 2023: protections for “vulnerable users” (St. 2022, c. 358)
Chapter 358 of the Acts of 2022, approved January 2, 2023, created the category of “vulnerable user.” It includes people riding a moped, a motorized scooter, “or other micromobility device.” Under M.G.L. c. 90, § 14, a driver passing a vulnerable user must keep a distance of “not less than 4 feet.” That rule applies now to drivers passing e-bike, moped, and scooter riders.
July 2025: higher auto insurance minimums (St. 2024, c. 275)
For auto policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2025, the compulsory bodily injury minimums rose to $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash (from $20,000 and $40,000). Property damage rose to $30,000 (from $5,000). The uninsured motorist minimum is also $25,000/$50,000. Personal injury protection (PIP) did not change. It stays at $8,000 per person.
These minimums apply to the at-fault driver’s policy when a car hits a rider. Read more in Massachusetts auto insurance minimums increase: what you need to know.
January 2026: the Special Commission on Micromobility report
The 2024 Mass Leads Act (St. 2024, c. 238, § 306) created a Special Commission on Micromobility. The commission issued its report in January 2026 with 16 recommendations, including a 20 mph speed limit on shared-use paths. The report is advice to the Legislature. It did not change the law on its own, but many of its ideas show up in the pending bills below.
Moped registration is now a two-year, $40 registration
Mopeds must be registered with the RMV but do not need a title. According to the RMV, registration is “$40 for a 2-year registration,” and registrations “now expire on March 31.” You get a plate and an expiration decal. You also need a valid driver’s license or learner’s permit to ride a moped on a public way under M.G.L. c. 90, § 1B. No Massachusetts statute requires moped insurance today.
2025: Boston delivery platform insurance ordinance
Boston passed an ordinance in 2025 that requires large delivery companies to carry liability insurance covering their delivery drivers, including those on “motorcycles, mopeds, and electric scooters.” It applies to platforms with more than one million orders a year and took effect in January 2026, according to local reporting.
The e-bike rebate programs have closed
The state’s MassCEC e-bike voucher program is closed and is “not expected to run in 2026.” Boston’s e-bike incentive program ran four rounds and is also closed.
Part 2: What Is Pending (Not Law)
Everything in this section is proposed. None of it is in effect. A bill can change a great deal before it passes, or it may never pass.
S.3168: “An Act to enhance the safe use of micromobility devices”
Status as of November 1, 2026: reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Transportation on July 6, 2026, and referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. No later action.
The summary below is our firm’s high-level summary of the committee redraft. It is not a section-by-section reading of the bill. Check the S.3168 bill page for the current text before relying on any detail.
As reported, the bill would:
- Add a Class 3 e-bike category (assistance up to 28 mph).
- Expand the moped definition to include a “hybrid or electric powered equivalent.”
- Require moped registration and compulsory liability insurance.
- Bar mopeds from bike lanes.
- Repeal the motorized scooter definition and the scooter section of the law, and replace them with speed tiers, numbered 0 through 3, for micromobility devices.
- Require batteries to meet UL standards 2271, 2272, 2849, and 2850.
- Set helmet rules and minimum ages.
- Set a 20 mph speed limit on shared-use paths.
- Create an RMV working group.
Several sections would not take effect until January 1, 2028, even if the bill is enacted.
What S.3168 would mean, if passed
Moped owners. Today you register a moped but no statute makes you insure it. Under the bill, liability insurance would become compulsory. The bill would also bring electric and hybrid mopeds into the moped definition, and it would move mopeds out of bike lanes. Today mopeds “may be operated on bicycle lanes adjacent to the various ways” but are excluded from off-street recreational bike paths.
Class 3 e-bike riders. Today a 28 mph e-bike is not a recognized e-bike in Massachusetts. MassDOT has said that “Class 3 e-bikes and ‘e-motos’ are not currently recognized categories of devices in Massachusetts.” The bill would create the category. Until it passes, a Class 3 bike does not get the protections of the e-bike law.
Scooter riders. Today stand-up and sit-down motorized scooters are governed by M.G.L. c. 90, § 1E: license or learner’s permit required, 20 mph maximum, helmet required, no passengers, and no riding between sunset and sunrise. The bill would repeal that section and sort scooters and similar devices into speed tiers instead.
Everyone on a shared-use path. Today the e-bike statute lets each city, town, or agency set its own path rules and speed limits. The bill would set a 20 mph limit on shared-use paths, which matches one of the Special Commission’s recommendations.
Battery buyers. The bill would require batteries to meet named UL safety standards. The Massachusetts Department of Fire Services reported in April 2026 that e-bikes and micromobility devices make up “more than 20%” of the incidents in its investigative checklist since 2023. Its current advice: plug the charger directly into a wall outlet and use the manufacturer’s battery and charger.
Other pending bills
| Bill | Subject | Status |
|---|---|---|
| H.3738 | Registration and plates for mopeds and scooters, plus insurance | Reporting date extended to July 31, 2026 |
| H.3761 | E-bike and scooter registration and insurance | Reporting date extended to July 31, 2026 |
| H.3758 | Class 3 e-bikes | Reporting date extended to July 31, 2026 |
| H.1340 | Uninsured motorist coverage for moped riders | Sent to a study order March 12, 2026 |
None of these bills is law.
We will update this article if S.3168 or any of these bills passes.
What To Do Now
Follow the law as it stands today. In practice that means:
- Moped riders: register with the RMV, carry a valid license or learner’s permit, wear a helmet, stay at or under 25 mph, and stay off off-street recreational bike paths. See moped, e-bike, and scooter registration and insurance in Massachusetts.
- E-bike riders: make sure your bike is a true Class 1 or Class 2, keep the label on it, and stay off sidewalks. See Massachusetts e-bike laws.
- Class 3 owners: know that your bike is not a recognized e-bike under current Massachusetts law.
- Scooter riders: the current § 1E rules still apply, including the license and helmet requirements and the ban on riding at night.
Insurance after a crash is a separate question, and for moped and scooter riders it is often a hard one. The standard Massachusetts auto policy excludes moped riders from PIP. Whether e-bike and scooter riders get PIP is not yet settled. Our article on PIP after an e-bike, moped, or scooter crash explains where things stand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is S.3168 law in Massachusetts?
No. As of November 1, 2026, S.3168 was reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Transportation on July 6, 2026, and referred to Senate Ways and Means. It has had no later action. It is a pending bill.
Do I have to insure my moped in Massachusetts right now?
No statute requires moped insurance today, and the RMV moped page lists none. You must register the moped. S.3168 would make liability insurance compulsory if it passes.
Are Class 3 e-bikes legal in Massachusetts?
Class 3 is not a recognized category under current Massachusetts law. The e-bike definition covers only Class 1 and Class 2 bikes. S.3168 and H.3758 would add Class 3, but neither has passed.
When would the new rules start if S.3168 passes?
It depends on the section. Several sections would not take effect until January 1, 2028. Check the bill page for the current text.
What does the 4-foot passing rule cover?
Since St. 2022, c. 358, a driver passing a vulnerable user, including someone on a moped, a motorized scooter, or another micromobility device, must keep at least 4 feet of distance under M.G.L. c. 90, § 14.
Did PIP change when the insurance minimums went up?
No. The higher minimums under St. 2024, c. 275 apply to bodily injury, property damage, and uninsured motorist coverage. PIP stays at $8,000 per person. See our page on PIP coverage in Massachusetts.
Hurt on an E-Bike, Moped, or Scooter?
If you were hurt in a crash, the rules that apply are the ones in effect today. We can review your situation and explain your options. Call Scalli Murphy Law at (617) 387-7000 or contact us for a free consultation. You can also learn more about our e-bike, scooter, and moped injury practice.
This article is general information about Massachusetts law, not legal advice for your situation.