An Act relative to motor vehicle battery storage

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Bill Driscoll

Requires premises with motor vehicle batteries to prominently display a notice for the public and first responders, with a $250 civil penalty for violations.

House concurred

Overview

Bill number/title: SD 2556 — An Act relative to motor vehicle battery storage

Purpose: Add a new requirement to publicly display notice about the presence of motor vehicle batteries on certain premises to improve safety for the public and first responders.

Status: House concurred (after passage in the Senate). As of the provided information, the bill has advanced beyond initial readings and is awaiting any final steps per the governor’s action.

Introduced: February 27, 2025

Sponsor: William J. Driscoll, Jr. (Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol)

What the bill would do

New provision added to Chapter 140: The bill inserts a new Section 59B immediately after Section 59A.

Core requirement: Affected entities must prominently display notice to the public and first responders that motor vehicle batteries are present on the premises.

Penalty for non-compliance: A civil penalty of $250 for violations of Section 59B.

Who is affected

The notice requirement applies to:
- Holders of any of the following licenses under section 58:
- Class 1
- Class 2
- Class 3
- Owners or operators of a motor vehicle repair shop registered under Chapter 100A
- Owners or operators of a junkyard or automobile graveyard (as defined in Section 1 of Chapter 140B)
- Any person or entity that sells or stores motor vehicle batteries

Key provisions and details

Notice content and visibility: The term “prominently display notice” requires that the presence of motor vehicle batteries on the premises be clearly indicated to both the public and first responders. The bill does not specify the exact format or location, only that the notice be prominent.

Scope of batteries: The statute refers to motor vehicle batteries generally, which could include traditional lead-acid batteries and newer types used in electric vehicles, depending on the batteries present on site.

Enforcement mechanism: Civil penalty of $250 per violation. The bill does not specify additional remedies or multiple-violation penalties beyond this individual civil penalty.

Procedural and timeline notes

Legislative actions noted:

2025-02-27: Referred to the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
2025-02-27: House concurred

Legal basis: Inserts a new Section 59B into Chapter 140 of the General Laws.

Next steps: With House concurrence, the bill would typically be transmitted to the governor for signature, veto, or request for further legislative action (subject to the governor’s approval or veto).

Potential impact

Safety and preparedness: By ensuring visible notification of battery storage on premises, first responders can respond more effectively to incidents involving batteries (fires, leaks, exposure, hazardous material scenarios).

Compliance burden: Affected businesses will need to establish a clearly visible sign or notice, with potential minimal compliance costs but ongoing administrative attention to ensure notices remain prominent.

Consistency with existing regulations: Aligns battery storage safety practices with other regulated notices for hazardous materials and potentially enhances coordination among public safety agencies and property owners.

Bill