ARTICLE
This Legislative Update provides NAFED members with information related to proposed new and/or modified fire protection and fire safety regulations/requirements at the state level. The report is not all-encompassing but rather informational and directional in nature. Should you be interested in learning more about a specific initiative listed, please click on the applicable link. GEORGIA SB501: Office of the Safety Fire Commissioner; Update Provisions This bill updates provisions related to the Office of the Safety Fire Commissioner to improve government efficiency, establishing a deputy commissioner of safety fire with specific duties and powers, and allowing for the payment of expenses for certain employees. It grants subpoena power to authorized personnel, creates an appeals board to review rulings on building permits with specified membership and powers, and mandates review of actions by deputized personnel, who can now also issue evacuation orders. The bill also allows for petitions for a rule nisi, clarifies final authority in certain matters, grants specific powers in suspected arson investigations, requires immediate reporting of fire or smoke-related fatalities, and allows for the suspension or revocation of licenses. Additionally, it increases fees for failing to maintain a smoke detector and for reinspections, establishes rules for permanent and temporary consumer fireworks sales facilities, and increases the number of temporary facilities a distributor can operate, while also revising penalties for violations. Conforming changes are made to laws concerning counties and municipalities, and probate courts are given jurisdiction over certain misdemeanors related to fire safety. Learn More » LOUISIANA HB 1186: Provides Relative to the Uniform Construction Code and Inspector Licensing This bill establishes the Louisiana Uniform Construction Code Commission (LUCCC) to oversee and enforce a Uniform Construction Code (UCC) for commercial and residential buildings, aiming to ensure public health, safety, and welfare while balancing affordability. The LUCCC will be responsible for adopting, amending, and enforcing the UCC, which will be based on nationally recognized building codes. A key provision is the licensing of building inspectors, who will be categorized as either public inspectors (employed by government entities) or private inspectors (contracted by government entities), and will be further classified by their area of expertise. The bill also outlines the powers and duties of the LUCCC, including issuing licenses, collecting fees on permits (up to $10 per permit), and establishing rules and regulations. It clarifies that local governments must enforce the UCC and use only LUCCC-licensed inspectors, and it addresses potential conflicts of interest for inspectors and companies. Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to include the LUCCC in certain provisions related to criminal history record information and the confidentiality of financial statements for private inspector company applicants. It also repeals existing statutes related to the Uniform Construction Code and makes conforming changes to terminology. Learn More » HB917: Fire Protection - Provides Relative to Life Safety and Property Protection Licensing This bill modifies existing Louisiana laws concerning life safety and property protection licensing, introducing new definitions and exemptions while updating requirements for criminal background checks and licensing fees. Key changes include defining "administrative personnel" as individuals performing routine clerical and scheduling duties, and exempting such personnel from licensing if they do not visit customer premises. It also exempts employees of licensed firms who work remotely from outside the state and pass a private criminal background check, provided they notify their employer of any address changes or felony convictions. The bill clarifies that principals, officers, and designated qualifiers of firms seeking a property protection license must undergo criminal background checks and have not been convicted of certain felonies within the past ten years, with specific exceptions for dismissed convictions. Licensing fees are restructured, with new fee schedules for both firm and employee endorsements, and license validity periods are extended from one year to three years, with updated procedures and late fees for renewals, including a one-year limit for renewal eligibility before requiring a new application and background check. Learn More » MARYLAND HB149: Fire Prevention - Assistant Fire Marshals, Residential Rental High-Rise Property Fire Safety Equipment, and Fire Alarm System Technicians This bill authorizes counties and municipalities to designate assistant state fire marshals, with the approval of or at the request of the State Fire Marshal, who will be subject to regulations on their qualifications, training, and certification, including standards for fire inspection, plan review, and investigation; it also requires the installation of smoke detectors in interior public corridors of residential rental high-rise buildings by July 31, 2025, and mandates the installation of automatic fire sprinklers in these buildings undergoing substantial renovations (defined as permanent alterations costing 40% or more of the building's assessed value) starting October 1, 2026, along with other enhanced fire safety features like enclosed stairwells and smoke compartments; additionally, the bill establishes a licensing and regulatory program for fire alarm system technicians and companies, similar to the existing program for fire sprinkler contractors, requiring them to meet professional and technical standards and carry liability insurance. Learn More » NEW JERSEY A2401: Establishes Measures to Improve Safety of Scrap Metal Businesses This bill mandates that scrap metal businesses in New Jersey implement measures to prevent fires, requiring them to install and maintain heat detection equipment, develop written fire safety plans in conjunction with local fire departments, and ensure that piles of combustible or noncombustible material do not exceed 55 feet in height. For businesses with stockpiles of unprepared metal exceeding 200 tons, a remotely operated fire suppression system is required, which must include overhead systems, monitored heat detection for stockpiles of 500 tons or more, and annual certification by a fire safety engineer and state agencies to ensure compliance with fire prevention standards. The county enforcing agency will review and approve these safety measures, which must be publicly displayed, and the Commissioner of Community Affairs is authorized to create further regulations. While most provisions take effect 12 months after enactment, businesses with large unprepared metal stockpiles are given longer deadlines to install the required fire suppression systems. Learn More » VERMONT H0718: An Act Relating to Building Energy Efficiency – Adopt a Residential Building Code This bill proposes to direct the Division of Fire Safety to adopt a residential building code, establish a task force on improving the contractor registry, require contractors to disclose their criminal record, update the energy education requirements for regulated professionals, and grant municipalities the authority to administer and enforce the Residential Building Energy Standards and the Commercial Building Energy Standards. Learn More »
This Legislative Update provides NAFED members with information related to proposed new and/or modified fire protection and fire safety regulations/requirements at the state level. The report is not all-encompassing but rather informational and directional in nature. Should you be interested in learning more about a specific initiative listed, please click on the applicable link.
GEORGIA
SB501: Office of the Safety Fire Commissioner; Update Provisions This bill updates provisions related to the Office of the Safety Fire Commissioner to improve government efficiency, establishing a deputy commissioner of safety fire with specific duties and powers, and allowing for the payment of expenses for certain employees. It grants subpoena power to authorized personnel, creates an appeals board to review rulings on building permits with specified membership and powers, and mandates review of actions by deputized personnel, who can now also issue evacuation orders. The bill also allows for petitions for a rule nisi, clarifies final authority in certain matters, grants specific powers in suspected arson investigations, requires immediate reporting of fire or smoke-related fatalities, and allows for the suspension or revocation of licenses. Additionally, it increases fees for failing to maintain a smoke detector and for reinspections, establishes rules for permanent and temporary consumer fireworks sales facilities, and increases the number of temporary facilities a distributor can operate, while also revising penalties for violations. Conforming changes are made to laws concerning counties and municipalities, and probate courts are given jurisdiction over certain misdemeanors related to fire safety.
Learn More »
LOUISIANA
HB 1186: Provides Relative to the Uniform Construction Code and Inspector Licensing This bill establishes the Louisiana Uniform Construction Code Commission (LUCCC) to oversee and enforce a Uniform Construction Code (UCC) for commercial and residential buildings, aiming to ensure public health, safety, and welfare while balancing affordability. The LUCCC will be responsible for adopting, amending, and enforcing the UCC, which will be based on nationally recognized building codes. A key provision is the licensing of building inspectors, who will be categorized as either public inspectors (employed by government entities) or private inspectors (contracted by government entities), and will be further classified by their area of expertise. The bill also outlines the powers and duties of the LUCCC, including issuing licenses, collecting fees on permits (up to $10 per permit), and establishing rules and regulations. It clarifies that local governments must enforce the UCC and use only LUCCC-licensed inspectors, and it addresses potential conflicts of interest for inspectors and companies. Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to include the LUCCC in certain provisions related to criminal history record information and the confidentiality of financial statements for private inspector company applicants. It also repeals existing statutes related to the Uniform Construction Code and makes conforming changes to terminology.
HB917: Fire Protection - Provides Relative to Life Safety and Property Protection Licensing This bill modifies existing Louisiana laws concerning life safety and property protection licensing, introducing new definitions and exemptions while updating requirements for criminal background checks and licensing fees. Key changes include defining "administrative personnel" as individuals performing routine clerical and scheduling duties, and exempting such personnel from licensing if they do not visit customer premises. It also exempts employees of licensed firms who work remotely from outside the state and pass a private criminal background check, provided they notify their employer of any address changes or felony convictions. The bill clarifies that principals, officers, and designated qualifiers of firms seeking a property protection license must undergo criminal background checks and have not been convicted of certain felonies within the past ten years, with specific exceptions for dismissed convictions. Licensing fees are restructured, with new fee schedules for both firm and employee endorsements, and license validity periods are extended from one year to three years, with updated procedures and late fees for renewals, including a one-year limit for renewal eligibility before requiring a new application and background check.
MARYLAND
HB149: Fire Prevention - Assistant Fire Marshals, Residential Rental High-Rise Property Fire Safety Equipment, and Fire Alarm System Technicians This bill authorizes counties and municipalities to designate assistant state fire marshals, with the approval of or at the request of the State Fire Marshal, who will be subject to regulations on their qualifications, training, and certification, including standards for fire inspection, plan review, and investigation; it also requires the installation of smoke detectors in interior public corridors of residential rental high-rise buildings by July 31, 2025, and mandates the installation of automatic fire sprinklers in these buildings undergoing substantial renovations (defined as permanent alterations costing 40% or more of the building's assessed value) starting October 1, 2026, along with other enhanced fire safety features like enclosed stairwells and smoke compartments; additionally, the bill establishes a licensing and regulatory program for fire alarm system technicians and companies, similar to the existing program for fire sprinkler contractors, requiring them to meet professional and technical standards and carry liability insurance.
NEW JERSEY
A2401: Establishes Measures to Improve Safety of Scrap Metal Businesses This bill mandates that scrap metal businesses in New Jersey implement measures to prevent fires, requiring them to install and maintain heat detection equipment, develop written fire safety plans in conjunction with local fire departments, and ensure that piles of combustible or noncombustible material do not exceed 55 feet in height. For businesses with stockpiles of unprepared metal exceeding 200 tons, a remotely operated fire suppression system is required, which must include overhead systems, monitored heat detection for stockpiles of 500 tons or more, and annual certification by a fire safety engineer and state agencies to ensure compliance with fire prevention standards. The county enforcing agency will review and approve these safety measures, which must be publicly displayed, and the Commissioner of Community Affairs is authorized to create further regulations. While most provisions take effect 12 months after enactment, businesses with large unprepared metal stockpiles are given longer deadlines to install the required fire suppression systems.
VERMONT
H0718: An Act Relating to Building Energy Efficiency – Adopt a Residential Building Code This bill proposes to direct the Division of Fire Safety to adopt a residential building code, establish a task force on improving the contractor registry, require contractors to disclose their criminal record, update the energy education requirements for regulated professionals, and grant municipalities the authority to administer and enforce the Residential Building Energy Standards and the Commercial Building Energy Standards.