WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

AB 588

State Fire Marshal: lithium battery working group: membership: funding.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Darsh Patel

The bill creates a Lithium Battery Safety Working Group to identify unaddressed safety issues and recommend practical building safety solutions for lithium batteries and charging i

In committee: Held under submission.
#statefiremarshal #funding #lithiumbatteryworkinggroup #membership
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · AB 588

AB 588 — State Fire Marshal: Lithium Battery Working Group: Membership: Funding

Author: Patel | Introduced: Feb 12, 2025 | Status: In committee — Held under submission (05/23/25)
Classification: Bill; Appropriation

Purpose / Intent

AB 588 directs the Office of the State Fire Marshal (SFM) to convene a multi‑stakeholder working group to identify fire‑ and electrical‑safety issues related to lithium batteries and associated charging infrastructure that are not already addressed in the 2025 California Building Standards Code, and to recommend practical solutions (including guidance, training, or building‑code changes) to improve building safety.

Key provisions

  • Adds Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 13270) to Part 2 of Division 12 of the Health and Safety Code establishing the "Lithium Battery Safety Working Group."
  • Requires the SFM to convene the group to:
    • Identify safety issues for lithium batteries and charging infrastructure installed or used near or within residential or commercial occupancies that remain unaddressed in the 2025 California Building Standards Code.
    • Recommend potential solutions for SFM and other agencies to consider. Recommendations may include informational bulletins, guidance documents, educational/training materials, and voluntary or mandatory building standards.
  • Specifies membership (selected by the SFM), to include:
    • The State Fire Marshal (chair)
    • Representatives from: Fire Districts Association of California; California Fire Chiefs Association; two California Professional Firefighters; California Building Standards Commission; a professor with lithium battery chemistry expertise (preferably from the University of California); local building departments; fire safety consultants; parking facility owners; commercial property owners; apartment owners; one licensed electrical contractor; one electrician with Energy Storage and Microgrid Training and Certification.
  • Requires the working group to establish a timeline and deliver initial research, findings, and recommendations on or before January 1, 2027.
  • Amends Section 18931.7 to make moneys in the Building Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund available, upon appropriation, to support the working group.
  • Appropriates an unspecified sum from the Building Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund to the SFM to cover operational costs, research, guidance and training materials, formulation of potential building standards, and identification of cost‑effective mitigation measures (dollar amount left blank in current text).

Who or what would be affected

  • State agencies: Office of the State Fire Marshal; California Building Standards Commission and other impacted agencies reviewing recommendations.
  • Local government: building departments and fire districts involved in implementation/training.
  • Private sector: parking facility owners (including attached/stand‑alone), commercial property owners, apartment owners, electrical contractors, electricians, fire safety consultants.
  • Public safety and building code stakeholders: potential changes to guidance and building standards could affect construction, retrofits, and operations where lithium batteries/charging infrastructure are present.

Fiscal / Funding

  • The bill authorizes use of the Building Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund (funded in part by building permit applicant fees) to pay for the working group, subject to appropriation.
  • The statutory appropriation amount is unspecified in the current text; therefore the net fiscal impact is not quantified in the bill as introduced. The bill is classified as an appropriation and was referred to the appropriations committee (suspense file).

Timeline & Legislative Status

  • Working group must deliver initial research and recommendations by January 1, 2027.
  • Legislative actions to date include referrals and committee amendments; as of 05/23/25 the bill is held under submission in the Assembly Appropriations Committee (suspense file).

Potential impact

  • Could produce statewide guidance, training, and recommended building standards to address growing safety concerns from residential and commercial use of lithium batteries (e.g., e‑bikes, storage systems, charging stations).
  • May lead to voluntary or mandatory code changes, increased training and public information, and costs for implementation depending on future recommendations and any subsequent regulatory or statutory actions. Funding and scope will depend on the appropriation amount and follow‑on actions by SFM and code authorities.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.