Assembly Bill 197
The definitions of motor bicycle and moped
Topics: Bicycle
Stopped in committee
It never got a , so it never came up for a vote. To try again, a lawmaker would have to start a new bill.
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Introduced, passed
Apr 7, 2009
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Committee, stopped here
Stopped here. No public hearing was held.
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Assembly vote, not reached
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Senate vote, not reached
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Governor, not reached
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Law, not reached
Latest entry in the official record, Apr 28, 2010: “Failed to pass pursuant to ”
It never got a hearing in the Assembly Committee on Transportation. See every bill that never got a hearing this session.
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Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary
What it would have done
Summary by the , the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.
Under current law, a "moped" is defined to include a bicycle-type vehicle, which has fully operative pedals and an engine that is an integral part of the vehicle, that is capable of a speed of not more than 30 miles per hour with a 150-pound rider on a dry, level, hard surface with no wind. A "motor bicycle" is defined as a bicycle to which a power unit not an integral part of the vehicle has been added to permit the vehicle to travel at a speed of not more than 30 miles per hour under the same conditions. Certain legal consequences follow from the classification of a vehicle as a moped or a motor bicycle. For example, a motor bicycle is exempt from the requirement of vehicle registration with the Department of Transportation (DOT), while a moped must be registered with DOT in the same manner as a motorcycle.
Also, with exceptions, mopeds are generally treated similarly to motorcycles for purposes of traffic regulation and vehicle equipment requirements, while motor bicycles are generally treated similarly to bicycles. However, a person must possess a valid operator's license to operate on a highway either a moped or a motor bicycle.
Read the full summary Show less
This bill expands the definition of "motor bicycle" to include a two-wheeled or three-wheeled vehicle that has fully operative pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts and that is capable, when powered solely by the motor, of a maximum speed of less than 20 miles per hour with a 170-pound rider on a dry, level, hard surface with no wind. This definition is similar to the definition under current federal law of "low-speed electric bicycle." The bill also specifies that such a vehicle is not a moped.
Who's behind it
5 lawmakers are its . 3 are Republicans and 1 is a Democrat. 1 has no party on record.
5 more lawmakers .
See all 10 names Hide the names
Authors (5)
- Alvin Ott · Republican, Assembly
- Joan Ballweg · Republican, Senate
- Terese Berceau · Democrat, Assembly
- Sherman
- John Townsend · Republican, Assembly
Signed on in support (5)
- Alan Lasee · Republican, Senate
- Sheila Harsdorf · Republican, Senate
- Jim Holperin · Democrat, Senate
- Dale Schultz · Republican, Senate
- Lena Taylor · Democrat, Senate
What it would cost
State agencies filed a . Each opens as a PDF from the Legislature.
What happened
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Apr 28, 2010
The session ended, and the bill died with it.
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Apr 23, 2009
A state agency sent in its estimate of the cost.
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Apr 7, 2009
Sent to the Assembly Committee on Transportation.
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Apr 7, 2009
Introduced in the Assembly.
See the official record, word for word Hide the official record
- Apr 7, 2009 · Assembly
Introduced by Representatives Sherman, Berceau, Ballweg, A. Ott and Townsend;Cosponsored by Senators Harsdorf, Holperin, Schultz, Taylor and A. Lasee
- Apr 7, 2009 · Assembly
Read first time and referred to committee on Transportation
- Apr 23, 2009 · Assembly
Fiscal estimate received
- Apr 28, 2010 · Assembly
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
Terms on this page
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1. More in the glossary
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis. More in the glossary
Author
A lawmaker who formally puts a bill forward. The text itself is drafted by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
Official term: Author, coauthor. More in the glossary
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor. More in the glossary
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate. More in the glossary
From the Wisconsin Legislature's official record, checked Sep 15, 2026. See the source
Committee
A small group of lawmakers that looks at a bill first. Most bills never leave committee.
Public hearing
A meeting where anyone can speak to a committee about a bill, or send written comments.
Senate Joint Resolution 1
The session's calendar. Any bill not passed by its last voting day dies.
Official term: Failed to pass pursuant to SJR 1
Legislative Reference Bureau
The Legislature's nonpartisan office that drafts bills and writes the summary at the top of each one.
Official term: LRB analysis
Signed on in support
Lawmakers who back a bill without being one of its authors, often from the other chamber.
Official term: Cosponsor
Cost estimate
A state agency's estimate of what a bill would cost or save.
Official term: Fiscal estimate