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SB00277

Code Official Career Pathway Study and Updates to Fire Safety and Accessibility Rules

Last scannedAug 25, 2026, 6:19 AM

In one sentence

This law creates a working group to study how people can become code officials, allows the State Fire Marshal to issue official written answers about fire safety rules, requires yearly reports on burn injuries from fireworks or explosives, mandates that polling places meet accessibility standards, and updates height requirements for parking spaces in public garages.

What it does

  • Creates a working group within the Department of Administrative Services to study how people can become code officials and recommend changes based on national best practices.
  • Allows the State Fire Marshal to issue official written interpretations of fire safety rules when requested by anyone, which must be published every four months or less.
  • Requires the Department of Public Health to send yearly reports to the Office of the State Fire Marshal about burn injuries and deaths caused by fireworks or explosives.
  • Mandates that town registrars select polling places only if they meet accessibility standards under the State Building Code, with a process for filing certifications or waiver applications.
  • Updates vertical clearance height requirements for public parking garages built between 1985 and 2004 to nine feet six inches, and those built after 2004 to eight feet two inches.

Who it affects

  • Code officials and people interested in becoming code officials
  • The State Fire Marshal and the Department of Public Health
  • Town registrars of voters and town legislative bodies responsible for selecting polling places
  • Owners or operators of public parking garages and terminals

Limits and unknowns

  • The specific recommendations for changing the code official career pathway will not be known until the working group submits its report by January 1, 2027.
  • The law does not list every detail of how towns must apply for waivers if a polling place cannot meet accessibility standards immediately.

Plain language

Terms to know

Code official career pathway
The steps, training, and rules needed to become a professional who enforces building and fire codes.
Fire Safety Code interpretations
Official written explanations from the State Fire Marshal about how specific parts of the fire safety laws apply in real situations.
Vertical clearance
The height space available above a parking spot or entrance, measured to ensure vehicles can fit underneath without hitting anything.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textOfficial digestCurrent bill textStored full record

Official summary

To implement various provisions recommended by the Department of Administrative Services regarding fire marshal qualifications, burn injury reports and State Building Code provisions relating to accessibility.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Signed by the Governor
  2. Transmitted to the Secretary of State
  3. Transmitted by Secretary of the State to Governor
  4. Public Act 26-110LCO
  5. Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, House
  6. House Calendar Number 571
  7. Rules Suspended
  8. House Adopted Senate Amendment Schedule A
  9. House Passed as Amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A
  10. In Concurrence
  11. Senate Adopted Senate Amendment Schedule A 4826
  12. Senate Passed as Amended by Senate Amendment Schedule A
  13. Transmitted Pursuant To Joint Rule 17
  14. Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' OfficeLCO
  15. Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate
  16. Senate Calendar Number 201
  17. File Number 290LCO
  18. Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/31/26 5:00 PMLCO
  19. Joint Favorable SubstitutePS
  20. Filed with Legislative Commissioners' OfficeLCO