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
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.
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).