[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8307 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8307
To require the Secretary of Transportation to establish a working group
to review and establish guidance and best practices for responding to
electric vehicle fires, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 15, 2026
Mr. Obernolte (for himself and Ms. DelBene) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Transportation to establish a working group
to review and establish guidance and best practices for responding to
electric vehicle fires, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Responder and Recovery Safety in EV
Fires Act''.
SEC. 2. ELECTRIC VEHICLE FIRE RESPONSE WORKING GROUP.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Electric vehicle.--The term ``electric vehicle'' means
a car, bus, or truck, including an automobile or commercial
medium- or heavy-duty on-highway vehicle (as those terms are
defined in section 32901(a) of title 49, United States Code),
that--
(A) is manufactured primarily for use on public
roads or highways; and
(B) contains a battery or similar energy storage
device that provides motive power to propel the car,
bus, or truck.
(2) Public road.--The term ``public road'' has the meaning
given the term in section 101(a) of title 23, United States
Code.
(3) Roadside incident.--The term ``roadside incident''
means an incident involving an electric vehicle that occurs on
a public road or any area adjacent to a public road as a result
of the use of the electric vehicle on the public road,
including--
(A) on the shoulder or median of a public road;
(B) at a charging station for electric vehicles
that is open to the public; and
(C) on a parking deck or lot that is open to the
public.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
(5) Working group.--The term ``working group'' means the
Electric Vehicle Fire Response Working Group established under
subsection (b).
(b) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a working group,
to be known as the ``Electric Vehicle Fire Response Working Group''.
(c) Composition.--The working group shall be composed of not fewer
than 22 members, including--
(1) at least 2 representatives of the towing industry,
appointed by the Secretary from among individuals nominated by
appropriate entities operating in or representing the towing
industry, including--
(A) if nominated, at least 2 representatives
nominated by the Towing and Recovery Association of
America (commonly known as the ``TRAA''); and
(B) such other representatives of the towing
industry as the Secretary determines to be appropriate;
(2) at least 6 representatives of emergency response
personnel, appointed by the Secretary from among individuals
nominated by appropriate entities representing emergency
response personnel who may respond to electric vehicle fires,
including--
(A) if nominated--
(i) at least 1 representative nominated by
the International Association of Fire Chiefs
(commonly known as the ``IAFC'');
(ii) at least 1 representative nominated by
the International Association of Fire Fighters
(commonly known as the ``IAFF'');
(iii) at least 1 representative nominated
by the National Volunteer Fire Council
(commonly known as the ``NVFC'');
(iv) at least 1 representative nominated by
the International Association of Chiefs of
Police (commonly known as the ``IACP'');
(v) at least 1 representative nominated by
the National Association of State Emergency
Medical Services Officials (commonly known as
the ``NASEMSO''); and
(vi) at least 1 representative nominated by
the American Public Works Association (commonly
known as the ``APWA''); and
(B) such other representatives of emergency
response personnel as the Secretary determines to be
appropriate;
(3) at least 6 representatives of the automotive industry,
appointed by the Secretary from among individuals nominated by
appropriate entities operating in or representing original
equipment manufacturers of electric vehicles or the component
parts of electric vehicles, including--
(A) if nominated--
(i) at least 1 representative nominated by
the Zero Emission Transportation Association
(commonly known as the ``ZETA'');
(ii) at least 1 representative of
manufacturers of electric buses;
(iii) at least 1 representative of
manufacturers of electric commercial medium- or
heavy-duty on-highway vehicles;
(iv) at least 1 representative of
manufacturers of electric vehicle batteries;
(v) at least 1 representative of
manufacturers or installers of electric vehicle
supply equipment; and
(vi) at least 1 representative of
manufacturers of electric vehicles; and
(B) such other representatives of the electric
vehicle manufacturing industry as the Secretary
determines to be appropriate;
(4) at least 4 representatives of research, standards-
setting, or training organizations with expertise relating to
the risks of electric vehicle fires and electric vehicle fire
response, including--
(A) if nominated--
(i) at least 1 representative nominated by
the National Fire Protection Association
(commonly known as the ``NFPA'');
(ii) at least 1 representative nominated by
the Emergency Responder Safety Institute
(commonly known as the ``ERSI'');
(iii) at least 1 representative nominated
by the Fire Safety Research Institute of UL
Research Institutes (commonly known as ``UL-
FSRI''); and
(iv) at least 1 representative nominated by
the Society of Automotive Engineers
International (commonly known as the ``SAE'');
and
(B) such other representatives of research,
standards-setting, or training organizations as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate;
(5) 1 representative of the National Transportation Safety
Board, appointed by the National Transportation Safety Board;
(6) 1 representative of the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, appointed by the Secretary, acting through the
Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration;
(7) 1 representative of the Federal Highway Administration,
appointed by the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of
the Federal Highway Administration;
(8) 1 representative of the United States Fire
Administration, appointed by the Administrator of the United
States Fire Administration; and
(9) such other representatives of a Federal agency as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate, such as representatives
of--
(A) the Department of Transportation (including any
relevant agency or modal administration of the
Department of Transportation);
(B) the Department of Energy;
(C) the intelligence community (as defined in
section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50
U.S.C. 3003)); or
(D) Federal law enforcement agencies.
(d) Head.--The Secretary shall select 1 member of the working group
to serve as head of the working group.
(e) Compensation.--Members of the working group shall serve without
compensation.
(f) Duties.--The working group shall--
(1) continuously review--
(A) known and developing risks relating to electric
vehicle fires and electric vehicle fire response;
(B) existing best practices, standards, and
guidance relating to electric vehicle fire response;
and
(C) roadside incidents involving electric vehicle
fires, including any response procedures utilized; and
(2) based on that review, periodically issue or update best
practices and guidance for responding to electric vehicle
fires.
(g) Database.--
(1) In general.--The working group shall--
(A) report roadside incidents involving electric
vehicle fires for inclusion in the database established
and maintained pursuant to section 9 of the Federal
Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C.
2208) (also known as the ``National Emergency Response
Information System'' or the ``NERIS''); and
(B) coordinate with the United States Fire
Administration to maintain and update that database,
including by ensuring that the database includes, to
the maximum extent practicable, the information
described in paragraph (3) with respect to roadside
incidents.
(2) Publication.--The Administrator of the United States
Fire Administration shall publish the information in the
reports required by paragraph (1) in the database described in
that paragraph.
(3) Contents.--To the maximum extent practicable, the
reports required by paragraph (1) shall include, with respect
to each roadside incident reported--
(A) the location of the incident;
(B) the time of the incident and response;
(C) the conditions at the scene, such as--
(i) the weather;
(ii) the presence or absence of daylight;
(iii) the presence or absence of
passengers, pedestrians, or other vehicles; and
(iv) such other conditions as the working
group determines to be relevant;
(D) the practices and procedures used to respond to
the electric vehicle fire;
(E) the results of the incident and response; and
(F) such other information relating to a roadside
incident as the working group determines to be
appropriate.
(h) Annual Report.--The working group shall submit to Congress and
make publicly available an annual report on the work of the working
group during the previous year, including--
(1) a summary of any best practices and guidance issued or
updated; and
(2) a summary of any issues for which new or updated best
practices or guidance is being considered.
(i) FACA.--Chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code (commonly
referred to as the ``Federal Advisory Committee Act''), shall not apply
to the working group.
(j) Administrative Expenses.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide administrative
support for the working group in a manner consistent with the
provision of support services under section 1011 of title 5,
United States Code.
(2) Funding.--The Secretary shall use existing funds
available to the Secretary to carry out paragraph (1).
(k) Termination.--The working group shall terminate on the date
that is 10 years after the date on which the working group is
established under subsection (b).
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