An Act to direct the Department of Motor Vehicles to convene a work group on improving the safety of electric power-assisted bicycles, motorized skateboards and scooters, electric personal assistive mobility devices, and mopeds for operators and the general public; report.
HB1120 directs the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles to convene a work group to study safety issues involving electric power-assisted bicycles, motorized skateboards and scooters, electric personal assistive mobility devices, and mopeds. The work group is tasked with examining options and measures to improve safety for both operators and the general public, and with developing recommendations on whether new regulations or legislation should be proposed.
The bill requires DMV to include relevant stakeholders in the work group, which may include law enforcement, local government associations, manufacturing companies, common interest community associations, and bicycle riding organizations. The group must submit its findings and recommendations to the chairs of the House and Senate Transportation Committees by November 1, 2026.
The bill does not itself change substantive traffic or vehicle laws, but it creates a formal state process to evaluate whether changes are needed. It directs DMV to organize stakeholder input and produce recommendations that could lead to future regulations or legislation affecting e-bikes, scooters, mopeds, and similar devices, potentially influencing safety standards, enforcement practices, and local or statewide transportation policy.
The bill appears generally noncontroversial and policy-oriented, with an emphasis on study and stakeholder engagement rather than immediate regulation. Because the measure only creates a work group and report, it likely appealed to lawmakers seeking to gather information before acting on a fast-evolving transportation and safety issue. No recorded votes or committee transcripts were provided indicating organized opposition.
Any contention would likely center on what future recommendations might emerge rather than the bill itself. Potential points of disagreement include whether the state should impose stricter rules on riders, how to balance safety with access and mobility, and whether regulation should be uniform statewide or leave room for local control. Stakeholders such as law enforcement and local governments may favor stronger safety measures, while bicycle and micromobility users, manufacturers, and community associations may be more cautious about burdensome restrictions.