Bill > B26-0244

This bill, titled the Micromobility Fire Safety Standards Act of 2025, establishes mandatory fire safety and testing standards for electric bicycles, electric mobility devices, and their rechargeable power sources—known as "traction batteries"—sold, rented, or leased within the District of Columbia, responding to growing concerns over lithium-ion battery fires. To ensure these products are safe, the legislation requires them to be evaluated and certified by independent testing organizations, such as Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs) approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and to bear official certification marks meeting recognized standards like UL (Underwriters Laboratories) or EN (European Norm). Furthermore, the bill updates and standardizes legal definitions across D.C. traffic laws and regulations for terms like "electric bicycle" and "electric mobility device"—which refers to rechargeable, self-balancing or ride-on personal transport devices—while clarifying that these devices are not legally classified as traditional motor vehicles, and it officially authorizes the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to create safety policies and oversee shared-dockless micromobility programs like Capital Bikeshare.