Florida Governor Vetoes E-Bike Safety Bill, Citing Concerns About Bigger Government

Despite growing concerns about e-bikes on city streets—and the recent, high-profile death of a teenager—Florida’s governor has vetoed a bill that would have put new requirements on the popular vehicles.

DeSantis said in a letter that Senate Bill 382, approved by lawmakers this spring with no dissenting votes, would have expanded local governments’ video surveillance of citizens, according to news reports. His sentiment appears to be in line a recent Florida Republican push to curb cities’ and counties’ authority and spending.

One state lawmaker vowed to push for a revised bill next year that could assuage some of the governor’s concerns but also address law enforcement and others’ worries about e-bikes, which can move as fast as 70 mph in some cases, First Coast News reported.

The veto came weeks after a 13-year-old Orlando youth, on his way to pick up flowers for Mother’s Day, was struck by a truck and killed, Florida Politics noted.

SB 382, sponsored by state Sen. Keith Truenow, would have required electric bike drivers to keep it under 10 mph if a pedestrian is within 50 feet. It also would have mandated that e-bikes on shared pathways must yield to people and give an audible signal before passing them.

The bill also aimed to create a statewide tracking system for e-bike and scooter crashes, making it easier to collate the scope of the problem. The bill would have created a task force, adjunct to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, to study the means of transportation and make recommendations for improvements to the Legislature.

DeSantis objected to that, noting the task force had no expiration date and could lead to greater government oversight.

Insurance coverage and claims for e-bike accidents have been in something of a grey area. Most states treat e-bikes as bicycles, meaning riders typically are not required to carry liability coverage or other insurance mandated for motor vehicles. Requirements for other micromobility vehicles vary more widely, with coverage often required for scooters with engines of 50cc or more.

The popularity of e-bikes has led to a rise in claims involving battery-related fire risks and rider injuries, Verisk reported this spring. The number of claims involving e-bikes quadrupled from roughly 1,000 claims in 2021 to more than 4,000 claims in 2025, a report found.

Topics Florida