The bill would require all e-bike users under the age of 18 to wear helmets.
TAMPA, Fla. — Students at a local Tampa high school helped a Florida representative file a bill that will improve safety for e-bike riders.
Rep. Susan Valdés, R-Tampa, filed House Bill 667 on Friday, which would require all e-bike users under the age of 18 to wear helmets with a group of teens from Freedom High School.
If passed, it will go into effect on July 1.
The students were able to write the bill’s text through Hillsborough County’s “Ought To Be a Law” program. It’s an initiative where high schoolers research, draft and lobby for real laws.
Valdés is partnered with the program to work with students and she was a former member of the Hillsborough County School Board.
This piece of legislation comes as the Tampa Bay area has seen multiple fatal accidents involving teens and e-bikes.
A deadly e-bike crash happened at the beginning of December, which was the second in less than two weeks in St. Pete. Police said that was the fifth deadly crash involving an e-bike they’ve investigated in 2025.
Police remind riders that e-bikes are allowed on the road with or without motor assist, and they are allowed on the sidewalk only while pedaling and without the motor assisting them.
Anjelicia Bruton contributed to this report.
