Bill

Bill > A495


NJ A495

NJ A495
Prohibits sale of certain lithium-ion devices; establishes restrictions on sale, lease, or rental of certain bicycles and scooters; creates fire risk awareness campaigns.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill makes it unlawful to assemble, recondition, or sell a lithium-ion battery using cells removed from used storage batteries. Additionally, the bill prohibits the sale, lease, or rental of a low-speed electric bicycle, motorized bicycle, low-speed electric scooter, motorized scooter, or storage battery for a low-speed electric bicycle, motorized bicycle, low-speed electric scooter, or motorized scooter unless certain standards concerning the storage battery and electrical system of the bicycle and scooter are met. Failure to comply with certain of the bill's provisions will result in the issuance of a written warning for the first violation, and a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for the second and each subsequent violation issued for the same offense on a different day within two years of the date of a first violation. The bill also requires businesses who use a low-speed electric bicycle or motorized bicycle for commercial purposes to provide its employees that operate these bicycles with fire safety materials. The Division of Highway Traffic Safety in the Department of Law and Public Safety (division) is required to publish the fire safety materials on its Internet website and provide the materials to each employee who operates a low-speed electric bicycle or motorized bicycle. The division is required to develop an informational campaign to educate the public on the fire risks posed by low-speed electric bicycles, motorized bicycles, low-speed electric scooters, and motorized scooters and the safety measures that can be taken to mitigate such risks. The campaign is to address both commercial and personal use of low-speed electric bicycles, motorized bicycles, low-speed electric scooters, and motorized scooters and include information on the purchasing of low-speed electric bicycles, motorized bicycles, low-speed electric scooters, motorized scooters, and battery equipment that meet established fire safety standards, as well as the proper maintenance and storage of low-speed electric bicycles, motorized bicycles, low-speed electric scooters, motorized scooters, and lithium-ion batteries. The division is also to engage in an outreach campaign to certain business entities relating to fire risks posed by the devices and the safety measures to mitigate fire risk. Finally, the division is required to submit reports to the Governor and to the Legislature. The reports are to include information on all fires that were reported during the prior calendar year in which a low-speed electric bicycle, motorized bicycle, low-speed electric scooter, or motorized scooter was determined to be the cause of such fire and a review of existing fire and administrative code provisions governing the purchase, use, storage and charging of low-speed electric bicycles, motorized bicycles, low-speed electric scooters, or motorized scooters, and an evaluation of additional measures that could mitigate fire risks.

AI Summary

This bill prohibits the assembly or sale of lithium-ion batteries made from used cells for use in low-speed electric bicycles, motorized bicycles, low-speed electric scooters, or motorized scooters, with penalties for violations starting with a written warning and escalating to a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for repeat offenses. It also mandates that these devices and their storage batteries must meet specific safety standards, often certified by accredited testing laboratories like Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and this certification must be displayed, with exceptions for second-hand sales or rentals without packaging. Businesses using these devices commercially must provide employees with fire safety materials, and the Division of Highway Traffic Safety (division) is tasked with creating public awareness campaigns about fire risks and safety measures for both personal and commercial use, including guidance on purchasing, maintaining, and storing these devices and their batteries. The division will also conduct outreach to businesses and submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature detailing fire incidents caused by these devices, reviewing existing regulations, and evaluating further fire risk mitigation measures.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee (on 01/13/2026)

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