This bill, SB 494-FN, amends existing laws concerning the state fire code, fire incident reporting, and the responsibilities of the state fire marshal. It updates the state fire code to reference the 2024 editions of the Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) and the Uniform Fire Code (NFPA 1), replacing the previous 2021 editions. The bill introduces new legal language that mandates fire chiefs to report incidents to the state fire marshal within ten days and grants the state fire marshal expanded investigative powers, including the authority to notify local authorities of suspected suspicious fires. Additionally, it establishes new duties for the state fire marshal, such as charging inspection fees for electrical and mechanical safety inspections and conducting local fire code inspections when local authorities are unavailable.

Moreover, the bill facilitates the sharing of licensing information between the office of professional licensure and certification and the state fire marshal while ensuring confidentiality of personal information. It also ratifies all amendments to the fire code approved by the board of fire control as of December 31, 2025, and will take effect 60 days after passage. The bill anticipates an increase in workload for the Division of Fire Safety, necessitating the hiring of an additional Fire Inspector, although it does not provide funding for this position. The projected revenue from the new inspection fees could reach up to $50,000 annually, but overall expenditures are expected to rise significantly without corresponding appropriations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 153:1, 153:18, 153:4-a, 153:34, 319-C:5
As Amended by the Senate: 153:1, 153:18, 153:4-a, 153:34, 319-C:5
SB494 text: 153:1, 153:18, 153:4-a, 153:34, 319-C:5