Rep. Latimer introduces bill in U.S. House to require new safety standards for electric vehicle batteries

The new bill authored by U.S. Rep. George Latimer in the U.S. House aims to improve electric vehicle safety by establishing mandatory standards to mitigate battery fire risks, according to the U.S. Congress.

H.R.6948 was introduced on Jan. 6, 2026 during the 2026 regular session of the 119th Congress. The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends title 49 of the United States Code to mandate that all new electric and hybrid vehicles include advanced technologies aimed at safely mitigating battery fire risks. The Secretary of Transportation is tasked with establishing a final standard within two years that requires these vehicles to feature systems for first responder access, thermal runaway suppression, passenger compartment protection, and standardized battery location identification. Additionally, the bill stipulates that mechanical door releases be installed to facilitate safe exits during electric system failures. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is also required to conduct a study within one year on the health impacts of battery fires on first responders and report the findings to Congress with appropriate recommendations. The standards will apply to vehicles manufactured for sale two years following the promulgation of the safety regulations.

The bill was introduced by Rep. George Latimer (Democrat-NY-16th District) and co-sponsored by Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican-NY-1st District).

Since the beginning of the current session, Rep. Latimer has introduced another two bills.

Congressional bills can originate in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, except for revenue-related measures, which must begin in the House. After introduction, bills are assigned to committees for review, hearings, amendments and debate before they can advance to a vote in each chamber. If both chambers approve identical versions, the legislation is sent to the president, who may sign it into law or veto it. Congress operates in two-year terms, with each term numbered sequentially and divided into two annual sessions. The legislative process and official bill records are maintained by the U.S. Congress and published through Congress.gov.

George Latimer is a Representative from New York who has held several political offices, including member of the Rye city council from 1988 to 1991, member of the Westchester County board of legislators from 1992 to 2004, member of the New York state assembly from 2005 to 2012, and member of the New York state senate from 2013 to 2017. He has served as executive of Westchester County from 2018 to 2025 and was elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, beginning January 3, 2025.

Latimer graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1970 and earned a B.A. from Fordham University in 1974, followed by an M.P.A. from New York University in 1976.

Information in this article was obtained from the U.S. Congress. The source data can be found here.