H.R. 6948

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6948 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6948

To amend title 49, United States Code, to require each new electric and 
hybrid vehicle to be equipped with technology that allows the timely 
extinguishment of an electric vehicle battery fire, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 6, 2026

Mr. Latimer (for himself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 49, United States Code, to require each new electric and 
hybrid vehicle to be equipped with technology that allows the timely 
extinguishment of an electric vehicle battery fire, 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. ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLE STANDARDS.

(a) Electric and Hybrid Vehicles.--Subchapter II of chapter 301 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section:
``Sec. 30130 Electric and hybrid vehicles
``(a) Battery Safety.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall promulgate a 
final motor vehicle standard to mitigate unreasonable risk of 
fire, explosion, reignition, stranded energy, thermal runaway, 
fire breaching the passenger compartment, loss of electrical 
power, and any other safety risk related to the battery used in 
any new electric or new hybrid vehicle manufactured for sale, 
sold, offered for sale, or introduced or delivered for 
introduction in interstate commerce in the United States.
``(2) Consultation.--The Secretary shall promulgate such 
standard in consultation with a representative from each of the 
following:
``(A) Major electric vehicle and hybrid vehicle 
manufacturers.
``(B) An accredited standards development 
organization with expertise in fire protection.
``(C) An organization that represents professional 
firefighters.
``(D) An organization that represents volunteer 
firefighters.
``(E) An organization that represents fire chiefs.
``(3) Minimum standard.--The final motor vehicle standard 
described in paragraph (1) shall require any new electric or 
hybrid vehicle manufactured for sale, sold, offered for sale, 
or introduced or delivered for introduction in interstate 
commerce in the United States to be equipped, at a minimum, 
with--
``(A) first responder access technology that allows 
immediate access to the battery for purposes of timely 
extinguishment of an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle 
battery fire;
``(B) technology that suppresses thermal runaway if 
an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle battery cell is 
damaged;
``(C) safeguards to delay breaching of the 
passenger compartment by an electric vehicle or hybrid 
vehicle battery fire, sufficient to permit escape or 
rescue of the vehicle operator and all passengers 
within a reasonable period of time from a collision or 
battery malfunction; and
``(D) battery and first responder access placed in 
uniform, standardized locations within the vehicle, 
subject to industry standards, in order to assist 
firefighters in recognizing and responding to battery 
fires.
``(4) Guidance for firefighters.--Not later than 1 year 
after the promulgation of the final motor vehicle standard 
described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall publish 
guidance on responding to fire incidents involving batteries 
used in electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles to be used as the 
basis for training firefighters.
``(b) Mechanical Door Release.--Not later than 2 years after the 
date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall promulgate a 
final motor vehicle safety standard that requires any new electric 
vehicle or hybrid vehicle manufactured for sale, sold, offered for 
sale, or introduced or delivered for introduction in interstate 
commerce in the United States to have clearly marked interior and 
exterior mechanical door releases on each door and hatch that allows 
safe exit of such vehicle in case of failure of the electric system of 
such vehicle.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Electric vehicle.--The term `electric vehicle' means 
a passenger motor vehicle that is propelled by an electric 
motor drawing current from a rechargeable storage battery, fuel 
cell, or other portable source of electrical current, which may 
include a nonelectrical source of power designed to charge any 
such battery and component thereof.
``(2) Hybrid vehicle.--The term `hybrid vehicle' means a 
passenger motor vehicle propelled by a combination of an 
electric motor and an internal combustion engine or other power 
source and component thereof.
``(3) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
of Transportation.''.
(b) Civil Penalty.--Section 30165(a)(1) of such title is amended by 
inserting ``30130,'' after ``30127,''.
(c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subchapter II of 
chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
the end the following:

``Sec. 30130. Electric and hybrid vehicles''.
(d) Application.--The amendments made by this Act shall apply to 
each new electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle manufactured for sale, 
sold, offered for sale, or introduced or delivered for introduction in 
interstate commerce in the United States on and after the date that is 
2 years after the date on which the Secretary promulgates the final 
motor vehicle safety standard pursuant to section 30130(a) of title 49, 
United States Code (as added by subsection (a)).

SEC. 2. STUDY ON THE HEALTH IMPACTS OF ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLE 
BATTERY FIRES ON FIRST RESPONDERS.

(a) Study.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall conduct a 
study on the health effects of electric and hybrid vehicle battery 
fires on first responders.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to 
Congress, and make publicly available on the website of the Department 
of Health and Human Services, a report that includes the following:
(1) The findings of the study under subsection (a).
(2) Input from at least one representative from the 
following:
(A) An accredited standards development 
organization with expertise in fire protection.
(B) An organization that represents professional 
firefighters.
(C) An organization that represents volunteer 
firefighters.
(D) An organization that represents fire chiefs.
(3) Recommendations for legislative action to protect first 
responders from the health effects of electric and hybrid 
vehicle battery fires and improve the safety of electric and 
hybrid vehicle batteries.
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