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Congress·In Committee·H.R. 3385

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue certain regulations to update the definition of motorcycle, and for other purposes.

Motorcycles: New Federal Definition

This bill is currently being reviewed by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. It recently moved out of a subcommittee and is waiting for the full committee to take action. The bill is actively moving through the early stages of the legislative process.

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
President
Law
Unlikely to pass

This is a technical bill that has just been introduced. Most bills that focus on specific regulatory definitions do not become law unless they are part of a much larger transportation package.

Key Points

  • This bill requires the Department of Transportation to create a new, specific definition for what counts as a motorcycle under federal law. This would help make sure that safety and traffic rules are applied the same way to similar vehicles across the country.
  • To be called a motorcycle under this rule, a vehicle must have a seat where the rider sits astride, use handlebars for steering, and have no more than three wheels. It must also be able to go faster than 30 miles per hour and use specific hand and foot controls for speed and braking.
  • This change would mainly affect companies that build motorcycles and three-wheeled vehicles. It ensures that newer types of motorized bikes or small vehicles are clearly categorized so they can be regulated properly for road safety.
  • If this bill passes, the Department of Transportation would have 120 days to update its official rulebook to match this new definition.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.

Milestones

3 milestones5 actions
Feb 10, 2026House

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

Feb 10, 2026House

Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held

May 14, 2025House

Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.

Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.

May 14, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

May 14, 2025

Introduced in House

The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.

Votes

No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.

News

No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

To direct the Secretary of Transportation to issue certain regulations to update the definition of motorcycle, and for other purposes.

Bill NumberHR 3385
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionForwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(3)
R: 3

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.