B 26-0244 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Micromobility Fire Safety Standards Act of 2025

The Micromobility Fire Safety Standards Act of 2025 requires all electric bicycles, scooters, and similar devices sold or rented in the District of Columbia to meet specific safety standards for their batteries and electronics. It mandates certification by approved testing labs (like UL 2849, UL 2272, or UL 2271) to ensure devices are evaluated for fire safety risks. This directly affects vendors, rental companies, and manufacturers operating within DC, ensuring their products display a certified mark. The law aims to prevent lithium-ion battery fires by making safety compliance a requirement for all micromobility devices available in the District.

Bill status in committee 3 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

May 2025

Committee Review

Jul 2026

Council Passage

Jul 2026

Governor

Introduced May 6, 2025 Last action Jul 14, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction → Engrossment · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered and re-titled for the 2026 session, while adding specific safety requirements for electric bikes, mobility devices, and batteries sold or rented in the District. The core policy change mandates that these devices must be certified by independent third-party labs to meet specific UL or EN safety standards. A key exemption was added allowing rental companies and secondhand sellers to bypass the physical certification mark requirement if they can provide proof of compliance to the Department of Transportation.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from general safety standards to explicitly list specific UL and EN standards for different device types, and it introduced a specific exemption for rental programs and secondhand sales.

TECHNICAL

The bill text was renumbered and the title was updated to 'Micromobility Fire Safety Standards Amendment Act of 2026' to reflect the current legislative session.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements mandate that electric bikes, mobility devices, and traction batteries sold or rented in the District must be evaluated, tested, and certified to specific safety standards (UL 2849, UL 2272, UL 2271, or their European equivalents).

DEFINITION

The bill added precise legal definitions for 'Certification,' 'Certification Body,' 'Certification Mark,' and specific device types to ensure consistent enforcement.

ADDED

An exemption was created allowing rental companies and secondhand sellers to operate without displaying the physical certification mark, provided they submit documentation proving the device meets safety standards to the Department of Transportation.

Floor votes · Council Jul 14, 2026

How they voted

12–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 13

Jul 14, 2026

D Democratic11

10 Yea 1

90% Yea

I Independent2

2 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jul 14, 2026

Council · Passed

Council Vote: pass (12-0-1)

council

Jul 8, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Committee Mark-up of B26-0244 by the Transportation and the Environment Committee

legislature

May 13, 2025

Committee

Referred to Committee on Transportation and the Environment

legislature

May 6, 2025

Introduced

B26-0244 Introduced by Councilmember Allen at Office of the Secretary

legislature

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors