Thermal Runaway Reduction Act of 2026

Plain-English Summary

This bill would require the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to create new safety rules specifically for transporting lithium-ion batteries and battery cells — the rechargeable power sources found in everyday products like smartphones, laptops, electric vehicles, and power tools. Currently, transportation rules for these batteries exist but may not be comprehensive enough to address growing safety concerns. This legislation would direct the federal government to develop more specific regulations to reduce the risks associated with moving these batteries by air, road, rail, or other means.

The bill would primarily affect companies and industries involved in shipping, manufacturing, and distributing lithium-ion batteries and the products that contain them. This includes airlines, trucking companies, shipping and logistics businesses, battery manufacturers, and retailers. The new regulations could set requirements around how batteries must be packaged, labeled, stored, or handled during transport to reduce the risk of fires or other hazardous incidents, which have been a documented concern with lithium-ion technology.

For everyday Americans, the practical impact would mostly be behind the scenes — meaning safer handling of the batteries in products they already use and ship regularly. The bill has been referred to two House committees — the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Energy and Commerce — which will review it before any further action is taken. It is still in the early stages of the legislative process and has not yet been voted on.