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S4084Referred to Committee

Responder and Recovery Safety in EV Fires Act

Share:
Introduced
In Committee
3
Passed One Chamber
4
Passed Both
5
Signed into Law
119th
Congress
2026-03-12
Introduced
1
Cosponsors
S
ⓘ
Type

Sponsor

Tim Sheehy
Tim Sheehy
Republican · MT · Senator
Votes with party: 34.5% (316 recorded votes)

Full profile: /officials/S001232

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

Cosponsors (1)

Members who have signed on to support this bill since introduction. Source: Congress.gov.

  • Ron Wyden (D-OR)Original· 2026-03-12

Latest Action

The most recent step in the bill's legislative path. Committee Activity below shows referrals and reports; the full action-by-action history including floor proceedings lives at Congress.gov →

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

2026-03-12

Source: Congress.gov

Committee Activity

Currently in

  • Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and TransportationReferred To · 2026-03-12

Previously

  • Commerce, Science, and Transportation CommitteeReferred To · 2026-03-12

Plain-English Summary

This bill would establish safety standards and training requirements for emergency responders who handle electric vehicle fires, and would require automakers to provide better information about EV battery hazards to firefighters and rescue workers. The legislation aims to protect first responders and improve recovery procedures for damaged electric vehicles by ensuring they have the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to safely manage EV-related emergencies.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

Subjects

Transportation and Public Works

Full Bill Text

Verbatim text published on Congress.gov via GovInfo. Use Cmd+F / Ctrl+F to search within this excerpt.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 4084 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4084 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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 12, 2026 Mr. Sheehy (for himself and Mr. Wyden) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation _______________________________________________________________________ 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…
Show the remaining 941 wordsHide the remaining 941 words
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). <all>
Open clean-text viewRead on Congress.gov →

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