Florida House Panel Joins Senate in Advancing E-Bike Safety Bill With Task Force and Data Tracking

Overview

• The House Government Operations Subcommittee unanimously approved HB 243, a committee substitute identical to the Senate’s SB 382.
• The Senate Transportation Committee had unanimously advanced SB 382 a day earlier, shifting the effort from immediate crackdowns to structured review.
• The legislation creates an Electric Bicycle Safety Task Force led by the DHSMV executive director and FDOT secretary, with appointed members from law enforcement, industry, local governments, medicine and safety groups.
• State and local agencies would be required to document e-bike crashes and deliver a consolidated report to state leaders by the end of October, after which the task force dissolves.
• The bill adds operational rules that prioritize pedestrians, including an audible signal before passing and a 10 mph cap on sidewalks or pedestrian areas when someone is within 50 feet, with questions lingering over practical enforcement.