Amended IN Assembly March 04, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 855Introduced by Assembly Member LackeyFebruary 19, 2025An act to add Section 34521 to the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 855, as amended, Lackey. Vehicles: commercial electric vehicle safety.Existing law requires the Department of the California Highway Patrol to regulate the safe operation of certain vehicles, including, but not limited to, motortrucks of 3 or more axles that are more than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating, truck tractors, and specified other motortrucks regulated by the department, the Department of Consumer Affairs, or the United States Secretary of Transportation. Existing law establishes the Office of Emergency Services within the office of the Governor and requires the office to be responsible for the states emergency and disaster response services for natural, technological, or manmade disasters and emergencies.This bill would require the Department of the California Highway Patrol, Office of Emergency Services, on or before January 1, 2027, to develop and post on its internet website an action plan for responding to electric commercial motor vehicle battery fires that covers specified topics, including best practices for reducing wildfire risk and mitigating the risk of battery reignition. The bill would require the department, office, in developing the action plan, to consult with certain stakeholders, including electric truck manufacturers the Department of the California Highway Patrol, electric truck manufacturers, and labor organizations.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 34521 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:34521. (a) On or before January 1, 2027, the department Office of Emergency Services shall develop and post on its internet website an action plan for responding to electric commercial motor vehicle battery fires.(b) The action plan shall include, at a minimum, best practices that address all of the following:(1) Assessing high-voltage hazards and fire risk following a collision.(2) Ensuring the safety of commercial drivers, first responders, other motorists, pedestrians, and surrounding communities.(3) Evaluating the health risks posed by toxic materials emitted into the air and establishing a safe and reasonable safety buffer to mitigate these risks.(4) Reducing wildfire risk.(5) Preventing structural damage to bridges and overpasses.(6) Achieving the most effective results using the least resources possible, including, but not limited to, water and air support resources.(7) Minimizing the duration of roadway closures.(8) Mitigating the risk of battery reignition.(c) In developing the action plan, the department office shall consult with relevant stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the Department of Transportation, electric truck manufacturers manufacturers, and labor organizations.(d) In developing the action plan, the department office may also consult with any relevant state or federal agency.
Amended IN Assembly March 04, 2025 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 855Introduced by Assembly Member LackeyFebruary 19, 2025An act to add Section 34521 to the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 855, as amended, Lackey. Vehicles: commercial electric vehicle safety.Existing law requires the Department of the California Highway Patrol to regulate the safe operation of certain vehicles, including, but not limited to, motortrucks of 3 or more axles that are more than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating, truck tractors, and specified other motortrucks regulated by the department, the Department of Consumer Affairs, or the United States Secretary of Transportation. Existing law establishes the Office of Emergency Services within the office of the Governor and requires the office to be responsible for the states emergency and disaster response services for natural, technological, or manmade disasters and emergencies.This bill would require the Department of the California Highway Patrol, Office of Emergency Services, on or before January 1, 2027, to develop and post on its internet website an action plan for responding to electric commercial motor vehicle battery fires that covers specified topics, including best practices for reducing wildfire risk and mitigating the risk of battery reignition. The bill would require the department, office, in developing the action plan, to consult with certain stakeholders, including electric truck manufacturers the Department of the California Highway Patrol, electric truck manufacturers, and labor organizations.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
Amended IN Assembly March 04, 2025
Amended IN Assembly March 04, 2025
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20252026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 855
Introduced by Assembly Member LackeyFebruary 19, 2025
Introduced by Assembly Member Lackey
February 19, 2025
An act to add Section 34521 to the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 855, as amended, Lackey. Vehicles: commercial electric vehicle safety.
Existing law requires the Department of the California Highway Patrol to regulate the safe operation of certain vehicles, including, but not limited to, motortrucks of 3 or more axles that are more than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating, truck tractors, and specified other motortrucks regulated by the department, the Department of Consumer Affairs, or the United States Secretary of Transportation. Existing law establishes the Office of Emergency Services within the office of the Governor and requires the office to be responsible for the states emergency and disaster response services for natural, technological, or manmade disasters and emergencies.This bill would require the Department of the California Highway Patrol, Office of Emergency Services, on or before January 1, 2027, to develop and post on its internet website an action plan for responding to electric commercial motor vehicle battery fires that covers specified topics, including best practices for reducing wildfire risk and mitigating the risk of battery reignition. The bill would require the department, office, in developing the action plan, to consult with certain stakeholders, including electric truck manufacturers the Department of the California Highway Patrol, electric truck manufacturers, and labor organizations.
Existing law requires the Department of the California Highway Patrol to regulate the safe operation of certain vehicles, including, but not limited to, motortrucks of 3 or more axles that are more than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating, truck tractors, and specified other motortrucks regulated by the department, the Department of Consumer Affairs, or the United States Secretary of Transportation. Existing law establishes the Office of Emergency Services within the office of the Governor and requires the office to be responsible for the states emergency and disaster response services for natural, technological, or manmade disasters and emergencies.
This bill would require the Department of the California Highway Patrol, Office of Emergency Services, on or before January 1, 2027, to develop and post on its internet website an action plan for responding to electric commercial motor vehicle battery fires that covers specified topics, including best practices for reducing wildfire risk and mitigating the risk of battery reignition. The bill would require the department, office, in developing the action plan, to consult with certain stakeholders, including electric truck manufacturers the Department of the California Highway Patrol, electric truck manufacturers, and labor organizations.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 34521 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:34521. (a) On or before January 1, 2027, the department Office of Emergency Services shall develop and post on its internet website an action plan for responding to electric commercial motor vehicle battery fires.(b) The action plan shall include, at a minimum, best practices that address all of the following:(1) Assessing high-voltage hazards and fire risk following a collision.(2) Ensuring the safety of commercial drivers, first responders, other motorists, pedestrians, and surrounding communities.(3) Evaluating the health risks posed by toxic materials emitted into the air and establishing a safe and reasonable safety buffer to mitigate these risks.(4) Reducing wildfire risk.(5) Preventing structural damage to bridges and overpasses.(6) Achieving the most effective results using the least resources possible, including, but not limited to, water and air support resources.(7) Minimizing the duration of roadway closures.(8) Mitigating the risk of battery reignition.(c) In developing the action plan, the department office shall consult with relevant stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the Department of Transportation, electric truck manufacturers manufacturers, and labor organizations.(d) In developing the action plan, the department office may also consult with any relevant state or federal agency.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 34521 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:34521. (a) On or before January 1, 2027, the department Office of Emergency Services shall develop and post on its internet website an action plan for responding to electric commercial motor vehicle battery fires.(b) The action plan shall include, at a minimum, best practices that address all of the following:(1) Assessing high-voltage hazards and fire risk following a collision.(2) Ensuring the safety of commercial drivers, first responders, other motorists, pedestrians, and surrounding communities.(3) Evaluating the health risks posed by toxic materials emitted into the air and establishing a safe and reasonable safety buffer to mitigate these risks.(4) Reducing wildfire risk.(5) Preventing structural damage to bridges and overpasses.(6) Achieving the most effective results using the least resources possible, including, but not limited to, water and air support resources.(7) Minimizing the duration of roadway closures.(8) Mitigating the risk of battery reignition.(c) In developing the action plan, the department office shall consult with relevant stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the Department of Transportation, electric truck manufacturers manufacturers, and labor organizations.(d) In developing the action plan, the department office may also consult with any relevant state or federal agency.
SECTION 1. Section 34521 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.
34521. (a) On or before January 1, 2027, the department Office of Emergency Services shall develop and post on its internet website an action plan for responding to electric commercial motor vehicle battery fires.(b) The action plan shall include, at a minimum, best practices that address all of the following:(1) Assessing high-voltage hazards and fire risk following a collision.(2) Ensuring the safety of commercial drivers, first responders, other motorists, pedestrians, and surrounding communities.(3) Evaluating the health risks posed by toxic materials emitted into the air and establishing a safe and reasonable safety buffer to mitigate these risks.(4) Reducing wildfire risk.(5) Preventing structural damage to bridges and overpasses.(6) Achieving the most effective results using the least resources possible, including, but not limited to, water and air support resources.(7) Minimizing the duration of roadway closures.(8) Mitigating the risk of battery reignition.(c) In developing the action plan, the department office shall consult with relevant stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the Department of Transportation, electric truck manufacturers manufacturers, and labor organizations.(d) In developing the action plan, the department office may also consult with any relevant state or federal agency.
34521. (a) On or before January 1, 2027, the department Office of Emergency Services shall develop and post on its internet website an action plan for responding to electric commercial motor vehicle battery fires.(b) The action plan shall include, at a minimum, best practices that address all of the following:(1) Assessing high-voltage hazards and fire risk following a collision.(2) Ensuring the safety of commercial drivers, first responders, other motorists, pedestrians, and surrounding communities.(3) Evaluating the health risks posed by toxic materials emitted into the air and establishing a safe and reasonable safety buffer to mitigate these risks.(4) Reducing wildfire risk.(5) Preventing structural damage to bridges and overpasses.(6) Achieving the most effective results using the least resources possible, including, but not limited to, water and air support resources.(7) Minimizing the duration of roadway closures.(8) Mitigating the risk of battery reignition.(c) In developing the action plan, the department office shall consult with relevant stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the Department of Transportation, electric truck manufacturers manufacturers, and labor organizations.(d) In developing the action plan, the department office may also consult with any relevant state or federal agency.
34521. (a) On or before January 1, 2027, the department Office of Emergency Services shall develop and post on its internet website an action plan for responding to electric commercial motor vehicle battery fires.(b) The action plan shall include, at a minimum, best practices that address all of the following:(1) Assessing high-voltage hazards and fire risk following a collision.(2) Ensuring the safety of commercial drivers, first responders, other motorists, pedestrians, and surrounding communities.(3) Evaluating the health risks posed by toxic materials emitted into the air and establishing a safe and reasonable safety buffer to mitigate these risks.(4) Reducing wildfire risk.(5) Preventing structural damage to bridges and overpasses.(6) Achieving the most effective results using the least resources possible, including, but not limited to, water and air support resources.(7) Minimizing the duration of roadway closures.(8) Mitigating the risk of battery reignition.(c) In developing the action plan, the department office shall consult with relevant stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the Department of Transportation, electric truck manufacturers manufacturers, and labor organizations.(d) In developing the action plan, the department office may also consult with any relevant state or federal agency.
34521. (a) On or before January 1, 2027, the department Office of Emergency Services shall develop and post on its internet website an action plan for responding to electric commercial motor vehicle battery fires.
(b) The action plan shall include, at a minimum, best practices that address all of the following:
(1) Assessing high-voltage hazards and fire risk following a collision.
(2) Ensuring the safety of commercial drivers, first responders, other motorists, pedestrians, and surrounding communities.
(3) Evaluating the health risks posed by toxic materials emitted into the air and establishing a safe and reasonable safety buffer to mitigate these risks.
(4) Reducing wildfire risk.
(5) Preventing structural damage to bridges and overpasses.
(6) Achieving the most effective results using the least resources possible, including, but not limited to, water and air support resources.
(7) Minimizing the duration of roadway closures.
(8) Mitigating the risk of battery reignition.
(c) In developing the action plan, the department office shall consult with relevant stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the Department of Transportation, electric truck manufacturers manufacturers, and labor organizations.
(d) In developing the action plan, the department office may also consult with any relevant state or federal agency.