What's happening
This bill authorizes a study on lithium-ion battery fires and prevention methods, requiring findings to be reported within one year.
Why it matters
Addresses Growing Safety Concerns. The bill responds to increasing incidents of lithium-ion battery fires, which have been linked to injuries, deaths, and significant property damage, especially as these batteries become more common in everyday devices and vehicles.
Evaluates Current and Best Practices. By reviewing both New York’s and other jurisdictions’ fire department protocols and safety measures, the study could reveal gaps in local approaches and identify effective strategies used elsewhere that could be adopted or adapted.
Potential Impact on Building Codes and Training. The study’s recommendations could lead to updates in building codes and create new training requirements for first responders, potentially making homes, businesses, and public spaces safer as battery technology becomes more prevalent.
Focus on Public Awareness and Industry Input. The bill recognizes the importance of public education regarding proper storage, disposal, and fire suppression, as well as the value of input from industry stakeholders, which could shape more practical, effective policies and reduce future incidents.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Lithium Battery Fire Risks
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.456
- Referred to finance
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to governmental operations
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
Show 4 earlier actions
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.465
- Referred to finance
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Study Lithium Battery Fire Risks
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Kwani O'Pharrow
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
257
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. MARTINEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT in relation to authorizing a study on lithium-ion battery fires and prevention
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The office of fire prevention and control is hereby authorized to conduct a study on lithium-ion battery fires and prevention in conjunction with the New York state energy research and development authority and the New York city fire department. Such study shall include but not be limited to:
(a) review the severity of lithium-ion battery fires, including what specific components of the battery causes severe fires;
(b) examine the effectiveness of lithium fireproof blankets on such fires;
(c) examine the current measures of safety implemented by fire departments across New York in relation to lithium-ion battery fires;
(d) examine measures other fire departments in different states and countries have implemented to increase safety in relation to lithium-ion battery fires;
(e) examine and make recommendations on measures the state of New York may take in order to increase safety related to lithium-ion battery fires;
(f) examine and make recommendations for establishing training requirements for proper handling of lithium-ion battery fires;
(g) examine and make recommendations to update current building codes for charging devices that may contain lithium-ion batteries;
(h) develop a public awareness and education program in relation to lithium-ion battery fires including but not limited to: storage, disposal, and lithium-ion battery fire suppression;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01113-01-5
(i) collect data on the number of deaths and injuries in relation to lithium-ion battery fires;
(j) collect data on property damage caused by lithium-ion battery fires; and
(k) input from stakeholders in the lithium-ion battery industry.
§ 2. No later than one year after the effective date of this act, the office of fire prevention and control shall report its findings to the governor and the legislature, as described under section one of this act.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act in relation to authorizing a study on lithium-ion battery fires and prevention
Purpose
The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the department of fire prevention and control to conduct a study on lithium-ion battery fires and prevention.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. authorizes the department of fire prevention and control to conduct a study on lithium-ion battery fires.
Section 2. instructs the department of fire prevention and control to report its findings to the governor and legislature.
Section 3. is the enacting clause.
Justification
In recent years, the issue of lithium-ion battery fires has stormed to the forefront. These fires are extremely dangerous and require a substantial amount of time and effort to be extinguished. Just this past year, there were multiple instances of severe fires in New York City that originated from lithium-ion batteries. These types of fires are a new phenomenon that must be carefully studied to help create a better system for handling lithium-ion battery fires.
A study on Lithium-ion battery fires would supply necessary data to help better prevent and handle these fires. This data would also better serve our firefighters who handle the challenging task of extinguishing lithi- um-ion battery fires. Overall, a study would help improve public safety and the prevention of property damages.
The issue of Lithium-ion battery fires is also extremely time sensitive. More products with these batteries as their primary power source are produced every day. Especially in the automotive industry, where now more than ever vehicles use lithium-ion batteries as a power source. In a future where more New Yorkers own and drive vehicles powered by lithi- um-ion batteries, there is potential for more dangerous and more fatal fires caused by accidents.
Through this study, research will be conducted on various methods of prevention to achieve solutions on the issue of lithium-ion battery fires. The study will also include potential recommendations to current building codes to be better protected from these dangerous fires. Through these actions, along with others outlined in the bill, we can help combat lithium-ion battery fires.
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.