Harriet Hageman (R-WY)
Battery Safety Placarding Act
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Battery Safety Placarding Act. It requires the Secretary of Transportation to update rules so that containers, vehicles, and rail cars carrying certain amounts of lithium-ion batteries must display an external placard. The new placards must be clearly visible from all sides and easily identified by law enforcement and first responders. The Secretary must conduct an economic impact assessment, consult with various stakeholders, and report back to Congress on the revisions. Additionally, the Secretary must periodically review the quantity thresholds, the effectiveness of the placarding requirements, and report any necessary modifications to Congress.
Yes
- Scored +4
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
Section 2(c) and (d) require the Secretary of Transportation to brief Congress and report periodically on placarding regulations and effectiveness.
- Scored +3
Does this give the federal government more power?
Section 2(a)(1) directs the Secretary of Transportation to revise federal placarding regulations for transporting lithium-ion batteries.
The opposite· 3 of 4
- Scored -2
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
Section 2(a)(3) requires an economic impact assessment evaluating potential supply chain disruptions and costs on small businesses due to new placarding rules.
- Scored -1
Would farmers be better off under this?
Section 2(a)(3) requires assessing the economic impact and potential supply chain disruptions on rural businesses, which may affect agricultural transport.
- Scored -1
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
Section 2(a)(3) mandates the evaluation of regulatory impacts on rural businesses and transportation providers.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Section 2(a)(2)(B): This provision requires the placards to be clearly visible from all sides and identifiable by law enforcement and first responders. This is a positive outcome because it helps keep emergency workers and law enforcement safe by letting them know immediately when lithium-ion batteries are present.
-
Section 2(a)(3): This provision requires the Secretary of Transportation to conduct an economic impact assessment to evaluate placard manufacturing costs, supply chain disruptions, and the effects on small and rural businesses and transportation providers. This is beneficial because it holds officials accountable for studying the financial strain before finalizing the rules.
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Section 2(b): This section forces the Secretary to consult with many different groups, including law enforcement, first responders, transportation providers, and supply chain experts. This is a positive step to make sure the people doing the actual work have a voice in the process.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Section 2(a)(3): The economic impact assessment is required to look at potential supply chain disruptions and costs for small and rural businesses and transportation providers. This points to a negative burden, as the new rules might cause financial hardships or delays for smaller businesses and transporters.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — Section 2(c) and (d) require the Secretary of Transportation to brief Congress and report periodically on placarding regulations and effectiveness. Does this give the federal government more power? — Section 2(a)(1) directs the Secretary of Transportation to revise federal placarding regulations for transporting lithium-ion batteries.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would farmers be better off under this? — Section 2(a)(3) requires assessing the economic impact and potential supply chain disruptions on rural businesses, which may affect agricultural transport. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Section 2(a)(3) mandates the evaluation of regulatory impacts on rural businesses and transportation providers.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Section 2(a)(3) requires an economic impact assessment evaluating potential supply chain disruptions and costs on small businesses due to new placarding rules.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — Section 2(a)(3) notes that the economic impact assessment must evaluate burdens on rural businesses and transportation providers.
- 10/1/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Introduced in House