What's happening
This bill requires manufacturers, sellers, and lessors of lithium-ion battery-powered micromobility devices and batteries to provide operating manuals in multiple languages to customers.
Why it matters
Expands Responsibility Beyond Retailers. The bill extends the requirement to provide operating manuals from just retailers to also include manufacturers, distributors, assemblers, and those who lease or rent these devices or batteries. This broadens accountability and ensures more consumers are reached, including those who rent or lease rather than buy.
Multilingual Access for Safety and Inclusion. By mandating manuals in English and the three most common non-English languages in New York, the bill directly addresses language barriers that could prevent safe use, helping non-English speakers better understand proper charging, storage, and emergency procedures for lithium-ion batteries.
Digital Accessibility and Broader Language Reach. The law also requires that an electronic version of the manual be available online in English and the twelve most common non-English languages, making essential safety information widely accessible regardless of how someone acquires the device or battery.
Stronger Enforcement and Penalties. The bill institutes fines for non-compliance, starting at $250 and increasing to $1,000 for repeat violations, providing a clear incentive for all sellers, manufacturers, and lessors to comply, thereby promoting consumer safety and awareness.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
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
- Signed chap.70
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.20
- Substituted for A923
- Referred to consumer affairs and protection
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–1
- Ordered to third reading cal.13
- Referred to rules
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
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Stefani Zinerman
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
738
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
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.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
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
Purpose
This is a chapter amendment to L.2024, c.201, to make technical changes for clarity and consistency with similar laws regarding lithium-ion batteries.
Summary of provisions
This legislation amends the underlying chapter by expanding the scope of prohibited acts. It now includes manufacturing, distributing, assembl- ing, reconditioning, leasing, and renting products without an operating manual.
Existing law
None.
Justification
This legislation is a negotiated change to the underlying chapter.
Legislative history
Chapter amendment to Chapter 201 of the Laws of 2024. S.7503-B and A.1910-B both passed the Senate and Assembly, respectfully, in May and June 2024.
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
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, 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, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.7503-B and A.1910-B , takes effect.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.