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Today, the California State Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 586 by Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego), creating the state’s first clear legal framework for registering electric motorcycles (eMotos) as off-highway vehicles (OHVs). The measure will allow eMoto riders to register their vehicles and access authorized OHV areas legally and safely.
"It’s no longer the wild west when it comes to these new and exciting vehicles in our OHV areas," said Jones. "This revolutionary legal framework is good for every Californian that goes off road whether on an eMoto or otherwise."
The bill was crafted with support from OHV enthusiasts throughout the state who say the absence of registration protocols and other ‘rules of the road’ for this new category of OHV has created unsafe conditions for years as the prevalence of eMotos has continued to increase.
"OHV technology continues to evolve and we must evolve with it," said Jones, himself an avid OHV enthusiast. "New machines hit the dirt each year and we've got to make sure that we keep each other safe on and off the highway."
Senate Bill 586 will next head to Governor Newsom for his signature before becoming law January 1, 2026.