FLARE Act

This bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to create regulations ensuring the safe transportation of lithium-ion batteries and cells. It specifically requires the Department of Transportation to fund programs that help suppress fires caused by thermal runaway, a dangerous condition where batteries overheat and ignite uncontrollably. The legislation also updates legal definitions to clearly identify lithium-ion batteries and include fire suppression for thermal runaway events in existing fire safety requirements. These changes aim to improve firefighter preparedness and equipment access when handling lithium-ion battery transport incidents.