The election is behind us. The Legislature is now in its lame duck session, the final weeks before the current term ends in December. LMB enters those weeks with two tactical victories at the Capitol, but more work to do. Here is where each one stands, and what comes next.
Justice for Vulnerable Roadway Users: Ready for a Floor Vote
The Justice for Vulnerable Roadway Users (VRU) bills are out of committee. The House Judiciary Committee voted HB 4334 out unanimously on Sept. 23. That clears the way for a vote by the full House.
Two bipartisan bills make up the package:
- HB 4334, sponsored by Rep. Julie Rogers, creates new penalties for a driver who commits a moving violation that injures or kills a vulnerable roadway user.
- SB 217, sponsored by Sen. Thomas Albert, adds those penalties to Michigan’s sentencing guidelines.
The two bills are tie-barred. HB 4334 cannot take effect unless SB 217 also becomes law. The Senate passed SB 217 in 2025. It now needs a second vote because of minor language changes that match it to HB 4334.
Today, Michigan law often leaves prosecutors with charges that are too minor or too severe. These bills give them options that fit the harm done. They protect cyclists, pedestrians, wheelchair users, and equestrians.
What Comes Next
- A floor vote in the House.
- A vote in the Senate for final passage.
- The governor’s desk.
LMB has worked toward this law for about six years. We have never been closer. Time is short, and we are pressing for final passage before the session wraps up.
Read more about the VRU bills →
E-Bikes: Bills on the Record, and a Springboard for 2027
LMB pushed hard this session for legislation that separates e-bikes from e-motos. Rep. Veronica Paiz and Rep. Bradley Slagh introduced that legislation on Sept. 23.
- HB 6339 (Paiz) would set certification standards for e-bike electrical systems and batteries.
- HB 6340 (Slagh) would define high-powered machines accurately, as electric mopeds and electric motorcycles, and keep them separate from e-bikes.
We knew going in that passage this session was unlikely. There was not enough time left on the calendar. We pushed anyway, and for good reason. Michigan now has bills on the record that we can point to. They are our springboard for the next session.
When the new Legislature is seated in January, we intend to pursue final passage.
The stakes are e-bike access and the trails we all share. E-bikes, as Michigan law defines them, belong where bikes belong. High-powered e-motos masquerading as e-bikes put that access at risk. They can also do significant damage to trails, and mountain bike trails are especially vulnerable. Protecting e-bike access protects our trails.
Read more about protecting e-bike access →
Watch Your Inbox
Early next week, we will send a call to action for the final push on the VRU bills. When it arrives, please act on it. Then share it with the people you ride with.
A unified cycling community got these bills this far. It is also how we finish the job.