---
type: "Bill"
title: "VEH CD-LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC BIKE"
description: "Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines a low-speed electric bicycle as a 2 or 3-wheeled device with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (one horsepower), whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 miles per hour. Excludes low-speed electric bicycles from the definition of \"motor vehicle\". Provides that a person may operate a low-speed electric bicycle only if the person has a valid current Illinois driver's license, regardless of classification, and the person is at least 16 years of age. Prohibits operation of a low-speed electric bicycle at a speed greater than 20 miles per hour upon any highway, street, or roadway. Prohibits operation of a low-speed electric bicycle on a sidewalk. Provides that, except as otherwise provided, the provisions of the Article of the Code dealing with bicycles also apply to low-speed electric bicycles."
jurisdiction: "us/states/il"
legislature: "Illinois General Assembly"
session: "96th"
identifier: "SB 236"
citation: "Illinois SB 236 (96th)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: []
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: []
version_count: 3
action_count: 32
vote_count: 2
first_action: "2009-02-04"
last_action: "2009-08-04"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/25b3438a-04a1-466f-93e0-e1520d145350"
source_url: "http://ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=236&GAID=10&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=40816&SessionID=76&GA=96"
source_hash: "2905a5d56abf3428192412fe96ffc7eff2f843fac8f67316c1786ee09b4fc037"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-il"]
---

# Illinois SB 236 (96th) — VEH CD-LOW-SPEED ELECTRIC BIKE

Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Defines a low-speed electric bicycle as a 2 or 3-wheeled device with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (one horsepower), whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 miles per hour. Excludes low-speed electric bicycles from the definition of "motor vehicle". Provides that a person may operate a low-speed electric bicycle only if the person has a valid current Illinois driver's license, regardless of classification, and the person is at least 16 years of age. Prohibits operation of a low-speed electric bicycle at a speed greater than 20 miles per hour upon any highway, street, or roadway. Prohibits operation of a low-speed electric bicycle on a sidewalk. Provides that, except as otherwise provided, the provisions of the Article of the Code dealing with bicycles also apply to low-speed electric bicycles.

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **Introduced** (filed) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09600SB0236&GA=96&SessionId=76&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=40816&DocNum=236&GAID=10&Session=&print=true)
2. **Engrossed** (committee substitute) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09600SB0236eng&GA=96&SessionId=76&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=40816&DocNum=236&GAID=10&Session=&print=true)
3. **Enrolled** (enrolled) — [source](http://ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09600SB0236enr&GA=96&SessionId=76&DocTypeId=SB&LegID=40816&DocNum=236&GAID=10&Session=&print=true)

## Votes

- Third Reading — **113–3** (pass) · lower
- Third Reading — **59–0** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- Heather Steans — primary (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2009-02-04** Filed with Secretary by Sen. Heather Steans `filing`
- **2009-02-04** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2009-02-04** Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2009-02-10** Assigned to Transportation `referral-committee`
- **2009-02-25** Held in Transportation
- **2009-03-04** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Heather Steans `amendment-introduction`
- **2009-03-04** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments `referral-committee`
- **2009-03-05** Held in Transportation
- **2009-03-10** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to Transportation
- **2009-03-10** Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted `amendment-passage`
- **2009-03-11** Do Pass as Amended Transportation; 011-000-000 `committee-passage`
- **2009-03-11** Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading March 12, 2009
- **2009-03-18** Second Reading `reading-2`
- **2009-03-18** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading March 19, 2009
- **2009-04-01** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading ** April 2, 2009
- **2009-04-02** Third Reading - Passed; 059-000-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2009-04-03** Arrived in House `introduction`
- **2009-04-03** Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading `reading-1`
- **2009-04-03** Chief House Sponsor Rep. Greg Harris
- **2009-04-06** First Reading `reading-1`
- **2009-04-06** Referred to Rules Committee `referral-committee`
- **2009-04-20** Assigned to Vehicles & Safety Committee `referral-committee`
- **2009-04-29** Do Pass / Short Debate Vehicles & Safety Committee; 006-000-000 `committee-passage`
- **2009-04-29** Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
- **2009-05-06** Second Reading - Short Debate `reading-2`
- **2009-05-06** Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
- **2009-05-07** Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 113-003-000 `reading-3, passage`
- **2009-05-07** Passed Both Houses
- **2009-06-05** Sent to the Governor `executive-receipt`
- **2009-08-04** Governor Approved `executive-signature`
- **2009-08-04** Effective Date January 1, 2010
- **2009-08-04** Public Act . . . . . . . . . 96-0125 `became-law`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/25b3438a-04a1-466f-93e0-e1520d145350`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Illinois legislature records).