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SF 490IOWASession 2025-2026State BillSigned into law

Enacted

Iowa Senate File 490 caps electric bicycle and pedestrian conveyance motor power at 750 watts

Original title: A bill for an act relating to the maximum power output for low-speed electric bicycles and pedestrian conveyances powered by an electric motor. (Formerly SF 375 .) Effective date: 07/01/2026.

Last action · April 30, 2026: Signed by Governor . S.J. 947 .

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

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What This Bill Does

Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 490 into law on April 30, 2026, setting a maximum electric motor power output of 750 watts for s and motorized s starting July 1, 2026.

Why it matters

Changes the legal motor capacity limits for electric bicycles and motorized pedestrian devices operating in Iowa, establishing a uniform 750-watt ceiling effective July 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

riders of low-speed electric bicycles

Low-speed electric bicycle riders must operate devices complying with the new maximum 750-watt motor output standard.

Directly affected

users of motorized pedestrian conveyances

Users of motorized pedestrian conveyances are subject to the revised motor power cap of not more than 750 watts.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the new maximum motor power output for electric bicycles in Iowa?

Under Senate File 490, s are restricted to an electric motor that produces not more than 750 watts.

When does this law go into effect?

The law becomes effective on July 1, 2026.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

38 actions

Apr 30, 2026SenateEnrolled
Signed by Governor . S.J. 947 .
Apr 30, 2026Senate
Reported correctly enrolled, signed by President and Speaker, and sent to Governor. S.J. 947 .
Mar 9, 2026House
Message from House. S.J. 491 .
Mar 5, 2026House
Immediate message. H.J. 601 .
Mar 5, 2026HouseFloor
Passed House , yeas 82, nays 4. H.J. 588 .
Jan 29, 2026House
Placed on calendar. H.J. 183 .

Show 32 earlier actions

Jan 28, 2026House
Committee vote: Yeas, 19. Nays, 0. Excused, 2. H.J. 183 .
Jan 28, 2026House
Committee report, recommending passage. H.J. 183 .
Jan 22, 2026Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee recommends passage.
Jan 21, 2026Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee Meeting: 01/22/2026 7:45AM RM 103.
Jan 20, 2026House
Subcommittee: Henderson, Meyer, A. and Scholten. H.J. 125 .
Jan 20, 2026House
Subcommittee: Henderson, Meyer, A. and Scholten. H.J. 126 .
Dec 31, 2025Iowa Legislature
* * * * * END OF 2025 ACTIONS * * * * *
Dec 31, 2025Iowa Legislature
* * * * * END OF 2025 ACTIONS * * * * *
May 15, 2025House
Rereferred to Transportation. H.J. 1221 .
May 15, 2025House
Rereferred to Transportation. H.J. 1221 .
Apr 3, 2025House
Placed on calendar under unfinished business. H.J. 894 .
Apr 3, 2025House
Placed on calendar under unfinished business. H.J. 894 .
Mar 24, 2025HouseIntroduced
Read first time, passed on file. H.J. 788 .
Mar 24, 2025House
Message from Senate. H.J. 777 .
Mar 24, 2025Senate
Immediate message. S.J. 616 .
Mar 24, 2025SenateFloor
Passed Senate , yeas 49, nays 0. S.J. 614 .
Mar 5, 2025HouseIntroduced
Introduced, placed on calendar. H.J. 515 .
Mar 5, 2025Iowa Legislature
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 765 .
Mar 4, 2025Senate
Committee report approving bill, renumbered as SF 490 . S.J. 410 .
Mar 4, 2025Senate
Committee report, approving bill. S.J. 410 .
Mar 4, 2025SenateIntroduced
Introduced, placed on calendar. S.J. 400 .
Mar 3, 2025Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee recommends passage.
Feb 25, 2025Senate
Subcommittee: Lofgren, Blake, and Pike. S.J. 356 .
Feb 24, 2025Senate
Subcommittee Meeting: 02/25/2025 4:00PM Senate Lounge.
Feb 19, 2025SenateIntroduced
Introduced, referred to Transportation. S.J. 311 .
Feb 19, 2025House
Committee vote: Yeas, 20. Nays, 0. Excused, 1. H.J. 370 .
Feb 19, 2025House
Committee report, recommending passage. H.J. 370 .
Feb 6, 2025Iowa Legislature
Subcommittee recommends passage.
Feb 5, 2025House
Subcommittee Meeting: 02/06/2025 8:30AM House Lounge 2.
Feb 5, 2025House
Subcommittee reassigned: Henderson, Kressig and Meyer, A. H.J. 183 .
Jan 29, 2025House
Subcommittee: Henderson, Golding and Kressig. H.J. 140 .
Jan 16, 2025HouseIntroduced
Introduced, referred to Transportation. H.J. 86 .

Version history

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Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

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