Battery Safety Placarding Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10673 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                               H. R. 10673

To require an external placard to be displayed on containers, vehicles, 
    and rail cars transporting lithium-ion batteries, and for other 
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 1, 2026

 Ms. Hageman introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
             Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
To require an external placard to be displayed on containers, vehicles, 
    and rail cars transporting lithium-ion batteries, 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 ``Battery Safety Placarding Act''.

SEC. 2. PLACARDING REQUIREMENT FOR TRANSPORTATION OF LITHIUM-ION 
              BATTERIES.

    (a) Issuance of Rule.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
        revise the placarding requirements under subpart F of part 172 
        of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, to require an 
        external placard to be displayed on any freight container, unit 
        load device, transport vehicle, or rail car transporting a 
        certain quantity of lithium-ion batteries.
            (2) Requirements.--The Secretary shall--
                    (A) establish the quantity of lithium-ion batteries 
                subject to the placarding requirements revised under 
                this subsection based on physical characteristics of 
                the batteries, including weight and dimensions, and 
                energy capacity, and in a manner that accounts for the 
                diverse risk profiles across the transportation 
                lifecycle of different lithium-ion battery products; 
                and
                    (B) require that a placard described in paragraph 
                (1)--
                            (i) be clearly visible from all sides of 
                        the freight container, unit load device, 
                        transport vehicle, or rail car; and
                            (ii) be identifiable by law enforcement and 
                        first responders.
            (3) Economic impact assessment.--In revising the 
        regulations required under this subsection, the Secretary 
        shall--
                    (A) conduct an economic impact assessment to 
                evaluate the costs and effects of compliance with such 
                revisions, including--
                            (i) placard manufacturing costs;
                            (ii) supply chain disruptions; and
                            (iii) effects on small and rural businesses 
                        and transportation providers; and
                    (B) account for any findings from such assessment 
                in such revisions.
    (b) Consultation.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall consult with the following stakeholders:
            (1) Representatives of Federal, State, local, and Tribal 
        law enforcement and first responder agencies.
            (2) Representatives of affected modes of transportation 
        (including motor carriers, rail carriers, air carriers, 
        maritime carriers, freight forwarders), logistics providers, 
        and associated trade associations.
            (3) Supply chain experts.
            (4) Hazardous materials transportation experts.
            (5) Stakeholders with expertise in the manufacture, 
        distribution, and sale of lithium-ion batteries and products 
        containing such batteries.
            (6) Other appropriate Federal or State agencies and 
        stakeholders.
    (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 30 days after the Secretary 
revises the regulations required under subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall brief Congress on such revisions.
    (d) Periodic Review.--After revising the regulations required under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
            (1) not less frequently than biennially, review the 
        quantity thresholds established under subsection (a)(2)(A);
            (2) periodically review the effectiveness of the revised 
        placarding requirements for lithium-ion batteries and new 
        technologies and emergency response capabilities; and
            (3) if the Secretary determines that any modification of 
        such regulations are necessary as a result of such review, the 
        Secretary shall submit to Congress a report before implementing 
        any modification.
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