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HB 1555 · 2026 · House · Executive Departments and Administration Committee

Fire marshal appeals authority

AI-generated

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

Allows the state fire marshal to hear de novo appeals of local fire chief decisions and grants statewide authority to approve, deny, or modify code requirements under the state building code.AI-generated

Status

Signed into law · July 10, 2026
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✓House
  3. ✓Senate
  4. ✓Governor
  5. ✓Law

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.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

In the bill's words

Quoted verbatim from the bill as enacted. Passages chosen from the operative text.Computed by this site

“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.”
Section 231:1
“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.”
Section 231:2
“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.”
Section 231:1
“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.”
Section 231:1

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Erica LayonRPrimeChair· Executive Departments and Administration
  • Sen. Daniel InnisRVice Chair· Finance
  • Sen. Keith MurphyRDeputy President Pro Tempore
  • Sen. Victoria SullivanRVice Chair· Education

Also: Rep. Daniel Popovici-MullerR, Rep. Matt Sabourin dit ChoinièreR, Rep. Carol McGuireR, Rep. Yury PolozovR

Public testimony

8 signed in online · 2 wrote testimony

75% support25% oppose0% neutral

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I oppose this bill because it reduces transparency or public oversight and does not meaningfully improve outcomes for New Hampshire residents.”
— Tiffany Gladu, Goffstownopposes
“The decision to grant variances to the fire code should only be made by subject matter experts. Many Fire chiefs will tell you that they are not SME's in codes or fire prevention.…”
— Jason Smedick, Goffstownopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Votes

yeanay
Starting text: Bill as introduced

Hearings and debates

  • Jan 28, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration3:01:52–3:03:161m 24slocated in the stream transcriptPublic Hearing
  • Feb 4, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and AdministrationWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamFull Committee Work Session
  • Feb 11, 2026Public hearingHouse Executive Departments and Administration1:25:07–1:28:283m 21slocated in the stream transcriptCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0668h; Executive Session
  • Feb 19, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:58:31–2:00:001m 29slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0668h — adopted, voice vote; Amendment # 2026-0668h — adopted, voice vote; Referred to Finance
  • Mar 6, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance - Division II1:16:20–1:22:416m 21slocated in the stream transcriptDivision II Work Session
  • Mar 17, 2026Public hearingHouse Finance4:08:21–4:14:536m 32slocated in the stream transcriptMajority Committee Report: Ought to Pass — roll call; Executive Session
  • Mar 26, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:33:22–1:37:494m 27slocated in the stream transcriptOught to Pass — adopted, roll call 192-162
  • Apr 15, 2026Public hearingSenate Executive Departments and Administrationfrom 1:41:15located in the stream transcriptHearing
  • May 7, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1650s; Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1650s — adopted, voice vote; Committee Amendment # 2026-1650s — adopted, voice vote
  • May 14, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamCommittee Report: Ought to Pass; Ought to Pass — adopted, voice vote
  • May 21, 2026Floor debateHouse floor1:30:54–1:33:312m 37slocated in the stream transcriptHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1650s (Rep. Layon) — adopted, division 180-160
  • Jun 4, 2026Floor debateSenate floorWatchnot located in the transcript — opens the full streamEnrolled Adopted — voice vote

Timestamps locate where this bill is taken up in the chamber's YouTube stream.

Legislative history

  1. Jan 7, 2026HouseIntroduced 01/07/2026 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 1 P. 25
  2. Jan 28, 2026HousePublic Hearing: 01/28/2026 01:00 pm GP 231
  3. Feb 4, 2026HouseFull Committee Work Session: 02/04/2026 11:00 am GP 231
  4. Feb 11, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 02/11/2026 10:00 am GP 231
  5. Feb 11, 2026House: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-0668h 02/11/2026 (Vote 14-0; CC) HC 7 P. 33
  6. Feb 19, 2026HouseAmendment # 2026-0668h: AA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 76
  7. Feb 19, 2026HouseOught to Pass with Amendment 2026-0668h: MA VV 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 77
  8. Feb 19, 2026HouseReferred to Finance 02/19/2026 HJ 5 P. 77
  9. Mar 6, 2026HouseDivision II Work Session: 03/06/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  10. Mar 17, 2026HouseExecutive Session: 03/17/2026 10:00 am GP 230
  11. Mar 17, 2026HouseMajority : Ought to Pass 03/17/2026 (Vote 14-10; RC)
  12. Mar 19, 2026HouseMinority : Inexpedient to Legislate
  13. Mar 26, 2026HouseOught to Pass: MA RC 192-162 03/26/2026 HJ 9 P. 18
  14. Mar 26, 2026SenIntroduced 03/26/2026 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 7
  15. Apr 15, 2026SenHearing: 04/15/2026, Room 103, SH, 09:20 am; SC 13
  16. May 7, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1650s, 05/07/2026; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 17
  17. May 7, 2026SenCommittee Amendment # 2026-1650s, AA, VV; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  18. May 7, 2026SenOught to Pass with Amendment # 2026-1650s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 05/07/2026; SJ 11
  19. May 14, 2026Sen: Ought to Pass, 05/14/2026; Vote 7-0; CC; SC 18A
  20. May 14, 2026SenOught to Pass: MA, VV; OT3rdg; 05/14/2026; SJ 12
  21. May 21, 2026HouseHouse Concurs with Senate Amendment 2026-1650s (Rep. Layon): MA DV 180-160 05/21/2026 HJ 14 P. 11
  22. Jun 4, 2026SenEnrolled Adopted, VV, (In recess 06/04/2026); SJ 14
  23. Jun 4, 2026HouseEnrolled (in recess of) 06/04/2026 HJ 15
  24. Jul 2, 2026HouseSigned by Governor Ayotte 07/02/2026; Chapter 231; eff. 7/1/2027

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.