Each legislative session, MassBike supports bills that will make bicycling better for riders across the Commonwealth. You can view our past legislative wins and read on to learn more about the bills we're supporting this session.
Below are the state-level bills that MassBike is supporting during the 193rd legislative session:
E-Bikes
An Act relative to class 3 electric bicycles
Filed by: Senator DiDomenico (Middlesex and Suffolk)
Bill Numbers (193rd Session): S.2230
What this legislation does:
- Adds a definition for Class-3 e-bikes to state law and cleans up the e-bike definition bill from the last session
Updates:
- Discussion deadline extended until the end of May
An Act expanding community access to electric bicycles
Filed by: Representative Natalie Blais (1st Franklin)
Bill Numbers (193rd Session): H.3145
What this legislation does:
- Establishes a grant program to fund e-bikes for municipalities, non-profits, and businesses
Updates:
- MassBike Executive Director, Galen Mook, testified in support of this bill on Jun 14, 2023
- Discussion deadline extended to early April
Roadway Safety
An Act relative to roadway safety
Filed by: Representative Tommy Vitolo (15th Norfolk)
Bill Numbers (193rd Session): H.3470
What this legislation does:
- Redefines crosswalks as "marked crossings" and expands protections to "vulnerable users"
Updates:
- Sent to study, MassBike will continue to pursue next session
An Act to promote safe bicycle yielding
Filed by: Representative Jennifer Balinsky Armini (8th Essex) and Representative Lindsay N. Sabadosa (1st Hampshire)
Bill Numbers (193rd Session): H.3702
What this legislation does:
- Allows bicyclists to legally treat stop signs as "yield"
Updates:
- Sent to study, MassBike will continue to pursue next session
Automated Enforcement
An Act for an equitable ten community pilot program to improve traffic safety
Filed by: Senator Will Brownsberger (Suffolk and Middlesex)
Bill Numbers (193rd Session): S.1483
What this legislation does:
- Enacts a ten-community pilot program to test automated enforcement in Massachusetts
Updates:
- Discussion deadline extended until the end of May
An Act relative to automated enforcement
Filed by: Representative Steven Owens (29th Middlesex), Representative Manny Cruz (7th Essex)
Bill Numbers (193rd Session): H.3393
What this legislation does:
- Allows the use of automated motor vehicle sensor devices for motor vehicles committing camera-enforceable violations (for example: running red lights)
Updates:
- Sent to study, MassBike will continue to pursue next session
Trail Development
An Act establishing the municipal utility corridor public access program
Filed by: Representative Michelle Ciccolo (15th Middlesex)
Bill Numbers (193rd Session): H.3158
What this legislation does:
- The Department of Public Utilities shall establish a municipal utility corridor public access program
Updates:
- Discussion deadline extended until early april
An Act to Establish a Local Option Municipal Excise Tax on Unused Utility Corridors
Filed by: Representative Michelle Ciccolo (15th Middlesex)
Bill Numbers (193rd Session): H.4000
What this legislation does:
- Allows municipalities to tax unused utility corridors to incentivize utilities to allow public access or to sell to the state or others to be turned into recreational trails
Updates:
- Discussion deadline extended until the end of April
An Act expanding access to trails for people of all abilities
Filed by: Senator Joanne Comerford (Hampshire, Franklin, and Worcester) and Representative Michelle Ciccolo (15th Middlesex)
Bill Numbers (193rd Session): H.769/S.446
What this legislation does:
- This bill works to assess our current trail systems throughout the state and makes recommendations for expanding access for people with disabilities.”
Updates:
- Reported favorably out of committee