I am not clear on what the current Texas law is, and whether bikes going over 20 mph are held to a different standard.

Current Texas law is that electric bicycles that fit this definition are pretty much treated the same as meat-powered bicycles.

... and if you don't fit the definition, you've got a moped or a motorcycle, which has a bunch of extra requirements, including insurance and registration.

Texas even has some laws that limit the ability of local governments to further limit them, for example this one that prohibits local governments from prohibiting electric bicycles from improved trails if the trail allows meat-powered bicycles.

As for the electric bikes that can go up to 28 mph (class 3, vs class 1 or 2), the only different standard that they're held to is that they're supposed to have a speedometer.

Pesonally, I think the current Texas laws regarding them are pretty good as-is, and the only change I'd suggest is actual enforcement for bikes that don't fit the definition above -- if the police see something that is going 35+ mph without a steep hill to help, pull them over.  (They could try to measure power and the like with a dynamometer, but just checking speed would be so much easier and simplify any issues regarding "probable cause".)

Austin used to require licensing and registration for even NON-motorized bicycles, from 1954-1980.  Until you read this just now, I was likely the only person on the planet who knew that.  I just dug it up from old City documents (which are not on the Internet).

Discuss.