What's happening
This bill requires manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of lithium-ion battery-powered micromobility devices to provide operating manuals in multiple languages to customers.
Why it matters
Expands responsibility beyond retailers. The bill broadens who must provide multilingual operating manuals, now including manufacturers, distributors, assemblers, and those who recondition, lease, or rent these devices—not just retail sellers. This widens accountability and could improve consumer safety at more points in the supply chain.
Addresses diverse language needs. By requiring manuals in English and the three most common non-English languages in New York, and online access in the top twelve languages, the bill aims to ensure that safety information reaches a much wider segment of the population, which is especially important in a linguistically diverse state.
Explicit safety content requirements. The operating manual must contain detailed instructions on battery storage, charging, and emergency procedures, which could help prevent fires, injuries, and property damage from improper use—a growing concern with lithium-ion batteries.
Stronger enforcement and penalties. Penalties for non-compliance are clearly spelled out, with escalating fines for repeat offenses. This could incentivize all businesses in the supply chain to prioritize consumer safety and compliance.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Manuals for E-Bikes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by S738
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.20
- Rules report cal.20
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Referred to consumer affairs and protection
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require Manuals for E-Bikes
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Cordell Cleare
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
923
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. ZINERMAN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring retailers of micromobility devices, bicycles with electric assist and limited use motorcycles powered by lithium-ion batteries, and lithium-ion batteries intended for use in such devices or bicycles to provide customers with an operating manual
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 391-cc of the general business law, as added by a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the general business law relating to requiring retailers of micromobility devices, bicycles with electric assist and limited use motorcycles powered by lithium-ion batteries, and lithium-ion batteries intended for use in such devices or bicycles to provide customers with an operating manual, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 7503-B and A. 1910-B, is renumbered section 495-d and amended to read as follows:
§ 495-d. [Sale of] Operating manuals for micromobility devices, bicycles with electric assist and limited use motorcycles powered by lithium-ion batteries, and lithium-ion batteries intended for use in such devices or bicycles. 1. [As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) "lithium-ion battery" means a rechargeable battery with an organic solvent electrolyte and positive and negative electrodes which utilize an intercalation compound in which lithium is stored.
(b) "micromobility device" means an electric scooter as defined in section one hundred fourteen-e of the vehicle and traffic law, an electric personal assistive mobility device as defined in section one hundred fourteen-d of the vehicle and traffic law, or other personal mobility device powered by a lithium-ion battery. The term micromobility
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02667-01-5
device shall not include bicycles with electric assist as defined by section one hundred two-c of the vehicle and traffic law, limited use motorcycles as defined in section one hundred twenty-one-b of the vehicle and traffic law, wheelchairs, or other electrically driven mobility assistance devices as defined in section one hundred thirty-a of the vehicle and traffic law, or any vehicle that is capable of being registered with the department of motor vehicles.
2.] No person, firm, partnership, association or corporation shall manufacture, distribute, assemble, recondition, sell or offer for sale [at retail], lease or rent any bicycles with electric assist as defined in section one hundred two-c of the vehicle and traffic law powered by a lithium-ion battery, micromobility devices powered by a lithium-ion battery, limited use motorcycles as defined in section one hundred twenty-one-b of the vehicle and traffic law powered by a lithium-ion battery, or lithium-ion batteries intended for use in such bicycles with electric assist, micromobility devices, or limited use motorcycles without providing to the purchaser an operating manual for such [bicycle with electric assist, micromobility device, or limited use motorcycle, or for such lithium-ion battery intended for use in a bicycle with electric assist, micromobility device, or limited use motorcycle] device.
[3.] 2. Such operating manual referred to in subdivision [two] one of this section shall be printed in English and the three most common non- English languages spoken by limited-English proficient individuals in the state, based on the data in the most recent American Community Survey published by the United States Census Bureau. The manual shall include instructions on how to store and charge the battery, when and where to charge the battery, and what to do if the battery overheats or leaks, there is a strange odor or noise associated with the battery or there is a change in the shape or color of the battery, and a website address where the electronic version of such manual is available in English and the twelve most common non-English languages spoken by limited-English proficient individuals in the state, based on the data in the most recent American Community Survey published by the United States Census Bureau.
[4.] 3. Violation of [this section by the retail entity pursuant to] subdivisions one and two [and three] of this section shall be punishable by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars for the first offense and not more than one thousand dollars for each subsequent offense.
[5.] 4. This section shall not annul, alter, affect, or exempt any person, firm, partnership, corporation, or association, subject to the provisions of this section from complying with the laws, ordinances, rules, or regulations of any locality, relating to the affixing, labeling, or provision of identification, safety, informational, or other materials.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the general business law relating to requiring retailers of micromobility devices, bicycles with electric assist and limited use motorcycles powered by lithium-ion batteries, and lithium-ion batteries intended for use in such devices or bicycles to provide customers with an operating manual, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 7503-B and A. 1910-B, takes effect.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.