Substitute House Bill No. 6965 proposes significant amendments to the laws governing the State Fire Marshal and related entities. Key changes include the appointment of the State Fire Marshal by the Commissioner of Administrative Services, who cannot be dismissed without written notice and a hearing. The bill also introduces a Deputy State Fire Marshal to assist in the role, modifies the Fire Marshal Training Council's composition by reducing its membership from twelve to nine, and alters the appointment process to include representatives from various organizations. Additionally, the bill mandates that businesses involved in fire and catastrophic restoration services obtain a license from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, with an initial fee of $150 and a renewal fee of $100, while imposing fines for unlicensed operation.

The legislation also aims to streamline the regulatory framework by repealing certain existing statutes. It is projected to incur annual costs of approximately $374,500 for the Department of Administrative Services and $152,459 for the State Comptroller's fringe benefits starting in fiscal year 2026. The effective date for the new provisions regarding the Fire Marshal Training Council and licensing requirements is set for October 1, 2025. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the structure and regulation of fire safety and restoration services in the state.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 29-291, 29-298a, 29-312
PS Joint Favorable: 29-291, 29-298a, 29-312
File No. 510: 29-291, 29-298a, 29-312