Senate bill · S8948 (2025-26)

Relates to lights for bicycles with electric assist and electric scooters

PassedLatest action May 29, 2026

New York State Senate

Same as A9209, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Passed as A9209, the matching Assembly bill.

Sponsor

Christopher Ryan

State Senator, District 50 · Democratic

Summary

Requires any person, firm, association or corporation selling or leasing bicycles with electric assist and electric scooters in NYS to affix front and rear lights.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law.

From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 25, 2026. About our data

Following needs an Agora account. You will sign in first, then come back to this page.

Your position on this bill

Choose the position closest to yours. You'll sign in or create an account to save it.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

In order to ensure safety uniformity, businesses selling or leasing bicycles with electric assist or electric scooters must equip such devices with front and rear lighting prior to sale or lease.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Where it stands

Passed the legislature and is awaiting a signature.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

Committee

Transportation · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Transportation · New York State Senate.

Cosponsors

Chris Burdick, Grace Lee and 11 more on Agora

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

Read on NY Senate

Democratic12
Republican1

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

Show the full list (13 names)

William Colton

The sponsor's argument

Why Christopher Ryan says this is needed

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission sets the federal standard for all new bicycles, including e-bikes. These federal rules govern the mandatory reflectors that must be installed by the manufacturers. Motor-driven cycles and motorcycles require manufacturer-installed lighting. However, most states, including New York, currently put the onus on the operator for complying with a state law requiring the use of front and rear lights when operating an e-bike or e-scooter after dark. To ensure enhanced statewide safety standards for operators, pedestri- ans, and other motor vehicles, sellers and lessors of e-bikes and e-scooters should sell or lease only those devices which are equipped with front and rear lights.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMay 29, 2026Result: passedSenate vote on A9209, the matching Assembly bill.
(58) (0) (0) (5)
Vote: Committee vote · Transportation
Senate TransportationMay 19, 2026Result: passed
(12) (0) (0) (1)

Full history

May 29, 2026
3RD Reading CAL.1273
3RD READING CAL.1273
NY Senate
May 29, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
May 29, 2026
Substituted
SUBSTITUTED FOR S8948A
NY Senate
May 21, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
May 20, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate

Show full history (11 earlier events)

May 19, 2026
1ST Report CAL.1273
1ST REPORT CAL.1273
NY Senate
May 4, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO SENATE
NY Assembly
May 4, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
May 4, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
NY Senate
Mar 26, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading CAL.334
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.334
NY Assembly
Mar 24, 2026
Amend (t) and Recommit to Transportation
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO TRANSPORTATION
NY Senate
Mar 24, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED
NY Assembly
Mar 19, 2026
Amend (t) and Recommit to Transportation
AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO TRANSPORTATION
NY Assembly
Jan 20, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
NY Assembly
Nov 3, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
NY Assembly