H.R. 8444 — Introduced in House

I 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8444 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 22, 2026Mr. Griffith (for himself and Ms. Matsui) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To direct the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to conduct a study with respect to motor vehicle flammability hazards, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Motor Vehicle Flammability Standards Study Act of 2026. 2. Study on motor vehicle flammability hazards (a) Study The Administrator shall conduct a study— (1) to identify— (A) the safety risks to motor vehicle occupants and first responders related to the flammability of materials used in the occupant compartments of motor vehicles; (B) the chemicals, materials, and technologies used by manufacturers to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 302; and (C) the likely human health and environmental hazards to motor vehicle occupants and first responders associated with exposure to chemicals, materials, and technologies identified, relevant to their use in motor vehicles under subparagraph (B) including for susceptible subpopulations within the general motor vehicle occupants and first responders population identified by the Administrator who, due to either greater susceptibility or greater exposure, may be at greater risk than the general population of adverse health effects from exposure to such chemicals, materials, or technologies, such as infants, children, pregnant women, or the elderly; and (2) to analyze— (A) with respect to risks identified under paragraph (1)(A), methods for mitigating such risks, including the extent to which Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 302 mitigates such risks; and (B) with respect to any hazards identified under paragraph (1)(C), methods for mitigating such hazards, including alternative methods of compliance with respect to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 302. (b) Coordination In carrying out subsection (a), the Administrator shall coordinate, as determined appropriate by the Administrator, with— (1) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; and (2) the Chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. (c) Public comment period In carrying out subsection (a), the Administrator shall provide a period for public comment on the study conducted under subsection (a). (d) Report Not later than 30 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and publish on the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a report on the results of the study. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Administrator The term Administrator means the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (2) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 302 The term Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 302 means the Federal motor vehicle safety standard described in section 571.302 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).