HB 1555-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

19Feb2026... 0668h

2026 SESSION

26-2830

06/08

HOUSE BILL 1555-FN

AN ACT relative to the administration and enforcement of the state fire code.

SPONSORS: Rep. Layon, Rock. 13; Rep. Popovici-Muller, Rock. 17; Rep. Sabourin dit Choiniere, Rock. 30; Rep. C. McGuire, Merr. 27; Rep. Polozov, Merr. 10; Sen. Innis, Dist 7; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Sullivan, Dist 18

COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration

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AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill allows the state fire marshal to hear de novo appeals of local fire chief decisions within set timelines and grants them statewide authority to approve, deny, or allow project-specific alternatives and code modifications under the state building code.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

19Feb2026... 0668h 26-2830

06/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six

AN ACT relative to the administration and enforcement of the state fire code.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Paragraph; State Board of Fire Control; Approval of Plans for Construction or Revision of all State Buildings Required. Amend RSA 153:8-a by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:

III. The state fire marshal shall also be responsible for hearing appeals of any decision issued by the local fire chief, or the fire chief’s duly authorized subordinates, in accordance with RSA 154:2, II. The state fire marshal shall hold a hearing within 40 days of the receipt of an appeal, unless an extension of time has been granted by the state fire marshal at the written request of one of the parties, and shall render a decision in writing within 30 days of the conclusion of the hearing. The review of the state fire marshal shall be de novo. The hearing shall not be bound by the formal rules of evidence, and the state fire marshal may consider the evidence in the record transmitted by the fire chief or such other relevant evidence as may be admitted by the state fire marshal. In considering the appeal, the state fire marshal may affirm, modify, or reverse any decision issued pursuant to RSA 154:2, II(b). Any party aggrieved by a decision of the state fire marshal may appeal that decision to the building code review board in accordance with RSA 155-A:11.

2 New Paragraph; State Building Code; Enforcement Authority. Amend RSA 155-A:7 by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraph:

VI. The state fire marshal shall have the power to approve, disapprove, or allow alternative materials, design and methods of construction and equipment and code modifications to the state building code for all municipalities.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect July 2, 2026.

LBA

26-2830

12/2/25

HB 1555-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

AN ACT relative to the administration and enforcement of the state fire code.

FISCAL IMPACT: This bill does not provide funding, nor does it authorize new positions.


Estimated State Impact
	FY 2026	FY 2027	FY 2028	FY 2029
Revenue	$0	$0	$0	$0
Revenue Fund(s)	None
Expenditures*	$0	$199,000	$203,000	$212,000
Funding Source(s)	General Fund
Appropriations*	$0	$0	$0	$0
Funding Source(s)	None
Expenditure = Cost of bill Appropriation = Authorized funding to cover cost of bill

Estimated Political Subdivision Impact
	FY 2026	FY 2027	FY 2028	FY 2029
Local Revenue	$0	$0	$0	$0
Local Expenditures	$0	Minimal Indeterminable Increase

METHODOLOGY:

This bill:

Implements a 20-year moratorium on state fire code enforcement following a certificate of occupancy.
Adds a requirement for the State Fire Marshal to hear appeals of any decision issued by a local fire chief.
Allows local fire chiefs and their authorized subordinates to grant variances to the state fire code.
Adds a requirement for the State Fire Marshal to have the power to allow exceptions to the state building code.
Adds a requirement to the Building Code Review Board to hear appeals of variances made by a local fire chief.

The Department of Safety states this bill adds work to the Division of Fire Safety to address appeals and state building code variances, which would require two new positions (assuming a September 1, 2026 start date); a building inspector (SOC 47-08, step 3) at a cost of $128,000 in FY 2027, $117,000 in FY 2028, and $122,000 in FY 2029, and an administrative assistant (SOC 43-04, step 3) at a cost of $71,000 in FY 2027, $86,000 in FY 2028, and $90,000 in FY 2029. This bill provides neither authorization nor appropriation for new personnel.

The New Hampshire Municipal Association states this bill will result in a minimal increase in local expenditures of less than $10,000 per municipality related to the development of policies and procedures related to the applications for local variances, plus any additional time needed to respond to appeals to the State Fire Marshal and/or the Building Code Review Board.

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Safety and New Hampshire Municipal Association