1 State Board of Fire Control; Definitions. Amend RSA 153:1, VI-a to read as follows:

VI-a. "New Hampshire fire code" or "state fire code" means the adoption by reference of the Life Safety Code, NFPA 101, 2021 edition, and the Uniform Fire Code NFPA 1, 2021 edition, as published by the National Fire Protection Association and as amended by the state board of fire control and ratified by the general court pursuant to RSA 153:5. The provisions of any other national code, model code, or standard referred to within a code listed in this definition shall be included in the state fire code unless amended in accordance with RSA 153:5.

2 State Board of Fire Control; Report of Fire Department Incident Responses. RSA 153:11 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

153:11 Report of Fire Department Incident Responses.

Every fire department incident response occurring in this state shall be reported to the state fire marshal within 10 days after the occurrence of the same by the appropriate fire chief or designee. The state fire marshal shall provide the necessary instructional data for the fire chiefs for incident reporting. Notwithstanding RSA 21-G:9, II(b), the state fire marshal may adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A with the approval of the commissioner of the department of safety relative to fire department incident response reporting.

3 State Board of Fire Control; Investigations. Amend RSA 153:18 to read as follows:

153:18 Investigations. The state fire marshal may, in addition to the reports made by any fire chief, whenever the state fire marshal deems it expedient or advisable, investigate or cause to be investigated, the cause, circumstances, and origin of any fire or building collapse occurring in the state, by which property is endangered, damaged, or destroyed, or any incident involving the release of carbon monoxide other than from a motor vehicle, and may especially examine and decide whether the same was the result of carelessness, design, or deliberate act. The state fire marshal shall have the power vested in a justice of the peace to compel the attendance of witnesses to testify upon an inquiry. Any fire, building collapse, or release of carbon monoxide other than from a motor vehicle occurring where death results shall be reported immediately to the office of the state fire marshal by the fire chief, and the office of the state fire marshal shall investigate the fire, building collapse, or release of carbon monoxide within 48 hours after receiving said report.

4 New Paragraphs; State Board of Fire Control; Duties of the State Fire Marshal. Amend RSA 153:4-a by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraphs:

VI. The state fire marshal may charge an inspection fee for electrical and mechanical safety inspections at the request of property owners, local code enforcement authorities, or contractors performing or responsible for the work. An inspection fee shall not be charged for consultation or assistance to a local code enforcement authority. The inspection fee schedule shall be the fees outlined in Saf-C 8100.

VII. The state fire marshal may assist with and conduct a local fire code inspection at the request of property owner or contractor, which has followed existing local permitting requirements, after three business days of unavailability by the local fire chief or designee. Nothing in this section shall require the state fire marshal to accept the inspection request. The state fire marshal may assess an inspection fee to the property owner or contractor requesting the inspection in accordance with the fee schedule outlined in Saf-C 8100.

5 New Paragraph; State Board of Fire Control; Mechanical Licensing; Inspectors. Amend RSA 153:34 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph:

V. In furtherance of assisting the appointed inspectors in their duties under this section, the executive director of the office of professional licensure and certification, or its designees, may share with the state fire marshal, or its designees, business contact information for licensees and past licensees of the mechanical safety and licensing board that the office maintains as part of the official record of the office or the board. For purposes of this section, "business contact information" shall mean work telephone numbers, work email addresses, and work addresses.

6 New Paragraph; Electricians; Inspectors. Amend RSA 319-C:5 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph:

IV-a. In furtherance of assisting the appointed inspectors with their duties under this section, the executive director of the office of professional licensure and certification, or its designees, may share with the state fire marshal, or its designees, business contact information for licensees and past licensees of the mechanical safety and licensing board that the office maintains as part of the official record of the office or the board. For purposes of this section, "business contact information" shall mean work telephone numbers, work email addresses, and work addresses.

7 State Fire Code; Ratification of Amendments; State Board of Fire Control. Pursuant to RSA 153:5, I, the general court hereby ratifies all amendments reviewed and approved by the board of fire control as of December 31, 2025.

8 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

1 State Board of Fire Control; Definitions. Amend RSA 153:1, VI-a to read as follows:

VI-a. "New Hampshire fire code" or "state fire code" means the adoption by reference of the Life Safety Code, NFPA 101, 2024 edition, and the Uniform Fire Code NFPA 1, 2024 edition, as published by the National Fire Protection Association and as amended by the state board of fire control and ratified by the general court pursuant to RSA 153:5. The provisions of any other national code, model code, or standard referred to within a code listed in this definition shall be included in the state fire code unless amended in accordance with RSA 153:5.

2 State Board of Fire Control; Report of Fire Department Incident Responses. RSA 153:11 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

153:11 Report of Fire Department Incident Responses.

Every fire department incident response occurring in this state shall be reported to the state fire marshal within 10 days after the occurrence of the same by the appropriate fire chief or designee. The state fire marshal shall provide the necessary instructional data for the fire chiefs for incident reporting. Notwithstanding RSA 21-G:9, II(b), the state fire marshal may adopt rules pursuant to RSA 541-A with the approval of the commissioner of the department of safety relative to fire department incident response reporting.

3 State Board of Fire Control; Investigations. Amend RSA 153:18 to read as follows:

153:18 Investigations. The state fire marshal may, in addition to the reports made by any fire chief, whenever the state fire marshal deems it expedient or advisable, investigate or cause to be investigated, the cause, circumstances, and origin of any fire or building collapse occurring in the state, by which property is endangered, damaged, or destroyed, or any incident involving the release of carbon monoxide other than from a motor vehicle, and may especially examine and decide whether the same was the result of carelessness, design, or deliberate act. The state fire marshal shall have the power vested in a justice of the peace to compel the attendance of witnesses to testify upon an inquiry. Any fire, building collapse, or release of carbon monoxide occurring where death results shall be reported immediately to the office of the state fire marshal by the fire chief, and the office of the state fire marshal shall investigate the fire, building collapse, or release of carbon monoxide within 48 hours after receiving said report. When the cause, origin, and circumstances of any fire occurring in any city, town, village district, or precinct in this state indicates that such fire was the result of design, or of suspicious origin, the fire chief or designee shall immediately notify the state fire marshal. The state fire marshal shall have the authority to submit his or her findings of facts in the case to the state police, county attorney, or other local authorities who may assist him or her in the prosecution of the matter.

4 New Paragraphs; State Board of Fire Control; Duties of the State Fire Marshal. Amend RSA 153:4-a by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraphs:

VI. The state fire marshal may charge an inspection fee for electrical and mechanical safety inspections at the request of property owners, local code enforcement authorities, or contractors performing or responsible for the work. An inspection fee shall not be charged for consultation or assistance to a local code enforcement authority. The inspection fee schedule shall be the fees outlined in Saf-C 8100.

VII. The state fire marshal may assist with and conduct a local fire code inspection at the request of property owner or contractor, which has followed existing local permitting requirements, after three business days of unavailability by the local fire chief or designee. Nothing in this section shall require the state fire marshal to accept the inspection request. The state fire marshal may assess an inspection fee to the property owner or contractor requesting the inspection in accordance with the fee schedule outlined in Saf-C 8100.

5 New Paragraph; State Board of Fire Control; Mechanical Licensing; Inspectors. Amend RSA 153:34 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph:

V. In furtherance of assisting the appointed inspectors in their duties under this section, the executive director of the office of professional licensure and certification, or its designees, may share with the state fire marshal, or its designees, business contact information for licensees and past licensees of the mechanical safety and licensing board that the office maintains as part of the official record of the office or the board. For purposes of this section, "business contact information" shall mean work telephone numbers, work email addresses, and work addresses.

6 New Paragraph; Electricians; Inspectors. Amend RSA 319-C:5 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph:

IV-a. In furtherance of assisting the appointed inspectors with their duties under this section, the executive director of the office of professional licensure and certification, or its designees, may share with the state fire marshal, or its designees, business contact information for licensees and past licensees of the mechanical safety and licensing board that the office maintains as part of the official record of the office or the board. For purposes of this section, "business contact information" shall mean work telephone numbers, work email addresses, and work addresses.

7 State Fire Code; Ratification of Amendments; State Board of Fire Control. Pursuant to RSA 153:5, I, the general court hereby ratifies all amendments reviewed and approved by the board of fire control as of December 31, 2025.

8 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.