Bill > SB553

This bill reestablishes the Commission to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Safety in Maryland, altering its membership and responsibilities. The Commission will continue to study and make recommendations on best practices for preventing, detecting, and suppressing lithium-ion battery fires in various applications, including consumer products, transportation, and utility-scale energy storage, and at recycling facilities. It will also examine issues related to reusing, recycling, and decommissioning these batteries, the feasibility of extended producer responsibility, and the need for public and first responder education. The bill also addresses battery risks at the Port of Baltimore and on transportation infrastructure, the impact of these risks on insurance, and the integration of federal regulations and industry standards. The Commission's membership is expanded to include representatives from the Maryland Port Administration, the ocean freight shipping industry, and the property casualty and commercial insurance industries, among others, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal will provide staff support. The Commission is required to submit an interim report by December 1, 2026, and a final report with findings and recommendations by December 1, 2027. This Act will take effect on June 1, 2026, and will be repealed on June 30, 2028.

Education

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0553?ys=2026RS