Assembly BillFailedVehicle
AB 855: Vehicles: commercial electric vehicle safety.
What AB 855 does, verified February 3, 2026
The bill aims to improve safety for commercial electric vehicles. It requires the Office of Emergency Services to develop an action plan for responding to electric commercial motor vehicle battery fires by January 1, 2027. The plan will cover best practices for reducing wildfire risk and mitigating battery reignition. The plan will be posted on the Office's website and developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the California Highway Patrol, electric truck manufacturers, and labor organizations.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
2In CommitteeCurrent
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. (2026-02-02)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions11 total · showing 5
| Feb. 02, 2026 | From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. |
| Jan. 31, 2026 | Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution. |
| May. 23, 2025 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| May. 14, 2025 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Apr. 29, 2025 | 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. |
Latest bill textAmended version, March 4, 2025 · 480 words
| Amended IN Assembly March 04, 2025 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 855
| Introduced by Assembly Member Lackey |
February 19, 2025 |
An act to add Section 34521 to the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 855, as amended, Lackey. Vehicles: commercial electric vehicle safety.
Existing law requires the Department of the California Highway Patrol to regulate the safe operation of certain vehicles, including, but not limited to, motortrucks of 3 or more axles that are more than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating, truck tractors, and specified other motortrucks regulated by the department, the Department of Consumer Affairs, or the United States Secretary of Transportation. Existing law establishes the Office of Emergency Services within the office of the Governor and requires the office to be responsible for the state’s emergency and disaster response services for natural, technological, or manmade disasters and emergencies.
This bill would require the Department of the California Highway Patrol, Office of Emergency Services, on or before January 1, 2027, to develop and post on its internet website an action plan for responding to electric commercial motor vehicle battery fires that covers specified topics, including best practices for reducing wildfire risk and mitigating the risk of battery reignition. The bill would require the department, office, in developing the action plan, to consult with certain stakeholders, including electric truck manufacturers the Department of the California Highway Patrol, electric truck manufacturers, and labor organizations.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 34521 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:34521.
(a) On or before January 1, 2027, the(b) The action plan shall include, at a minimum, best practices that address all of the following:
(1) Assessing high-voltage hazards and fire risk following a collision.
(2) Ensuring the safety of commercial drivers, first responders, other motorists, pedestrians, and surrounding communities.
(3) Evaluating the health risks posed by toxic materials emitted into the air and establishing a safe and reasonable safety buffer to mitigate these risks.
(4) Reducing wildfire risk.
(5) Preventing structural damage to bridges and overpasses.
(6) Achieving the most effective results using the least resources possible, including, but not limited to, water and air support resources.
(7) Minimizing the duration of roadway closures.
(8) Mitigating the risk of battery reignition.
(c) In developing the action plan, the department office shall consult with relevant stakeholders, including, but not limited to, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the Department of Transportation, electric truck manufacturers manufacturers, and labor organizations.
(d) In developing the action plan, the department office may also consult with any relevant state or federal agency.
Text of AB 855 as amended, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions