H.R. 8307

[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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