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

Budget Housing

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Patel
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify how many people will be in the working group.

Lithium Battery Safety Group

This law creates a group led by the State Fire Marshal to study safety issues related to lithium batteries and their chargers near or inside houses and businesses, and suggests ways to improve building safety.

What This Bill Does

Creates a working group led by the State Fire Marshal to identify safety issues with lithium batteries and associated charging infrastructure that are not covered in the current California Building Standards Code.
The group will recommend potential solutions to enhance building safety for the State Fire Marshal and other impacted agencies.
Requires the working group to complete its work and provide initial research, findings, and recommendations by January 1, 2027.
Makes money from the Building Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund available upon appropriation to support the working group's activities.

Who It Names or Affects

The State Fire Marshal
People who work on building codes and standards

Terms To Know

Building Standards Code: Rules about how buildings should be built to keep people safe.
Working Group: A team of experts brought together to solve a specific problem or issue.

Limits and Unknowns

The exact amount of money for the working group is not specified.
It does not specify how many people will be in the working group.
Does not detail what happens after the initial research and recommendations are given.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2026-01-31 California Legislative Information
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
In committee: Held under submission.
2025-05-07 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-22 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.M. Read second time and amended.
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on E.M.
2025-04-09 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on E.M. Read second time and amended.
2025-04-01 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on E.M. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.
2025-03-20 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on HUM. S.
2025-03-19 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on HUM. S. Read second time and amended.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on HUM. S.
2025-02-13 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 15.
2025-02-12 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 588, as amended, Patel.
State Fire Marshal: lithium battery working group: membership: funding.
Existing law requires the State Fire Marshal, commencing January 1, 2026, to adopt regulations that promote the fire and electrical safety of electric bicycles, powered mobility devices, and storage batteries, as specified. Existing law defines storage batteries for these purposes to include lithium batteries, as provided.
This bill would require the Office of the State Fire Marshal to convene a lithium battery working group, composed of specified members selected by the State Fire Marshal, to identify those safety issues associated with lithium batteries and associated charging infrastructure installed or used near or within residential or commercial occupancies that have not already been addressed in the 2025 Edition of the California Building Standards Code, and to recommend potential solutions that will enhance building safety for the
State Fire Marshal and other impacted agencies to consider, as provided. The bill would require the working group to deliver the initial research, findings, and recommendations on or before January 1, 2027.
Existing law establishes the Building Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund in the State Treasury. Existing law provides that moneys in the fund, which include building permit applicant fees, shall be available, upon appropriation, to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, among other state entities, for expenditure in carrying out various provisions relating to building and housing standards, as provided.
This bill would make moneys in the Building Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund available, upon appropriation, to support the working group. The bill would also appropriate an unspecified amount from the fund for specified purposes related to addressing building safety concerns associated with
lithium batteries and associated charging infrastructure being installed or used near or within residential or commercial occupancies.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF