SB2247 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 07607 SPS 17651 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
SB2247

Introduced 2/7/2025, by Sen. Ram Villivalam

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

New Act

Creates the Micromobility Fire Safety Act. Provides that all micromobility devices and traction batteries for micromobility devices manufactured, distributed, sold, or offered for lease or rent in the State shall meet specified safety standards.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning business.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Micromobility Fire Safety Act.

Section 5. Findings.

(a) Micromobility devices, such as electric bicycles, electric scooters, and personal e-mobility devices, like hoverboards and electric unicycles, are increasingly popular, battery powered transportation options for American consumers and workers.

(b) As battery powered devices, micromobility devices can be a fire and explosion safety hazard if they do not meet safety standards.

(c) For micromobility devices that do not meet safety standards, there is a heightened risk of the lithium-ion batteries that power these devices experiencing a cascading failure where the overwhelming generation of heat triggers the release of toxic gases, explosions, or the spread of flames.

(d) In 2021 and 2022, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission received reports from 39 states of at least 208 fires or overheating events that were associated with electric bicycles and personal e-mobility devices that caused 19 fatalities.

(e) There are consensus standards available that mitigate the battery and electrical system hazards of electric bicycles and personal e-mobility devices that can cause fires, including standards published Underwriters Laboratories and the International Organization for Standardization.

(f) In 2022, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a letter to the manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers of electric bicycles and personal e-mobility devices urging these products be "designed, manufactured, and certified" to the appropriate UL standard as "manufacturing these products in compliance with the applicable UL standards significantly reduces the risk of injuries and deaths from micromobility device fires."

(g) In 2022, after 216 micromobility device related fires in 2022 that caused 147 injuries and 6 fatalities, New York City enacted legislation requiring micromobility device certification to the applicable UL safety standards.

(h) Studies have demonstrated that without conformity assessment performed by a nationally-accredited independent third-party certification organization, products are less likely to meet product safety standards. Product safety certification ensures safety is a level playing field in the market.

Section 10. Definitions. As used in this Act:

"Certification" means the attestation by the certification body, indicated by the certification body's certification mark on the equipment, device, or product, that the equipment, device, or product has been evaluated and tested and found to conform to relevant standards.

"Certification body" means an independent third-party organization providing certification for micromobility products that:

(1) is recognized by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration as a nationally-recognized testing laboratory; and

(2) has received ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation from an independent accreditation body that is a member of the International Accreditation Forum.

"Certification mark" means a mark of conformity owned by a certification body and registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office that is visible and affixed to a certified equipment, device, or product.

"Electric bicycle" means a 2-wheeled or 3-wheeled electrical-mechanical device provided with functional pedals that includes one or more electric motors to either assist the rider when pedaling or provide motive power to the wheels when the rider is not pedaling.

"ICS codes" mean codes published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that serve as a system for categorizing the types of standards under the International Classification for Standards.

"Micromobility devices" means the term inclusive of e-bike, e-scooters, and other types of personal e-mobility devices.

"Nationally-recognized testing laboratory" means an organization that meets the qualifications provided in 29 CFR 1910.7(b) and is recognized as a nationally-recognized testing laboratory by the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Nationally-Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) Program.

"Personal e-mobility device" means a consumer mobility device intended for a single rider with a rechargeable electric drive train that propels the rider, and which may be provided with a handle for grasping while riding. This device may or may not be self-balancing and may or may not be seated.

"Traction battery" means a rechargeable battery used to power the electric motors of the micromobility product.

"UL standards" means standards published by Underwriters Laboratories for testing and manufacturing products to ensure their safety, security, and sustainability.

Section 15. Requirements for manufacturer; distribution, sale, lease, and rent of micromobility devices and traction batteries. All micromobility devices and traction batteries for micromobility devices manufactured, distributed, sold, or offered for lease or rent in this State shall meet safety standards as follows:

(1) electric bicycles shall:

(A) be evaluated, tested, and certified to UL 2849 by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory with UL 2849 included in its scope of recognition under the Nationally-Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) Program; and

(B) be affixed with a certification mark from a certifying body with ICS 43.150, ICS 43.120, and UL 2849 included in the scope of accreditation;

(2) personal e-mobility devices shall:

(A) be evaluated, tested, and certified to UL 2272 by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory with UL 2849 included in its scope of recognition under the Nationally-Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) Program; and

(B) be affixed with a certification mark from a certifying body with ICS 29.220.99, ICS 43.120, and UL 2272 included in its scope of accreditation; and

(3) traction batteries for use in micromobility devices shall:

(A) be evaluated, tested, and certified to UL 2271 by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory with UL 2849 included in its scope of recognition under the Nationally-Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) Program; and

(B) be affixed with a certification mark from a certifying body with ICS 29.220.99, ICS 43.120, and UL 2271 included in its scope of accreditation.