BOMA-Backed Lithium-Ion Battery Bill Passes through MarkUp

H.R. 973: The Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act, has passed the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce by a unanimous vote. Similarly, S. 389, the Senate version of the bill, passed through the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation favorably without amendment.

The bipartisan bill, supported by BOMA International, would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to publish a final consumer product safety standard for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes and other micro-mobility devices to protect against the risk of fires caused by such batteries.

The impacts of such a standard being issued would include the following:

• It would be unlawful for a company to sell, distribute, or import lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes and other micromobility devices that are not in compliance with CPSC’s mandatory safety standard. Any company that violates this rule would be subject to potential civil and criminal penalties.
• Manufacturers of lithium-ion batteries would have to test and certify that their batteries meet the safety standard before the batteries enter the marketplace.
• CPSC would be able to conduct compliance inspections at any factory, warehouse, or establishment in which lithium-ion batteries are manufactured to ensure that they comply with the mandatory safety standard.
• CPSC would be able to obtain samples of batteries that are being offered for import into the United States for inspection, and if they failed to comply with the standard, could request that the Secretary of Treasury deny entry of those batteries.

As this bill continues to move through the legislative and committee process, the support and help from the BOMA membership are critical. We are asking that you take action through this campaign link and amplify BOMA International's messaging on social media, especially Twitter and LinkedIn. The BOMA International X handle is @BOMAIntl.