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*sb0513*
SENATE BILL 513
E4 6lr1592
CF HB 149
By: Senator Smith
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 20, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Fire Prevention – Assistant Fire Marshals, Residential Rental High–Rise 2
Property Fire Safety Equipment, and Fire Alarm System Technicians 3
FOR the purpose of authorizing a county or municipal corporation to designate certain fire 4
marshals with the approval of the State Fire Marshal or to request that the State 5
Fire Marshal designate certain fire marshals and requiring the State Fire Marshal 6
to adopt certain regulations governing the qualifications, training, standards, and 7
certification of designees; requiring installation of certain fire prevention in certain 8
high–rise residential buildings; req uiring the State Fire Prevention Commission to 9
adopt certain regulations relating to fire alarm system technicians; and generally 10
relating to fire safety. 11
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Public Safety 13
Section 6–304, 9–102, 9–901, and 9–902 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18
Article – Public Safety 19
6–304. 20
2 SENATE BILL 513
(a) (1) A county or municipal corporation of the State may designate WITH 1
THE APPROVAL OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL, OR MAY REQUEST THAT THE STATE 2
FIRE MARSHAL DESIGNATE , a fire marshal or appropriate fire official to serve as 3
assistant State fire marshal to carry out this title, including issuing orders, in that county 4
or municipal corporation. 5
(2) An assistant State fire marshal may not receive compensation from the 6
State. 7
(3) The State Fire Marshal shall carry out this title in a county or 8
municipal corporation that [has not] DOES NOT HAVE A designated [an] assistant State 9
fire marshal. 10
(b) (1) [An assistant State fire marshal shall have at least completed National 11
Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1031 – Fire Inspector I, or the equivalent, as 12
determined by t he State Fire Marshal. ] THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL SHALL ADOPT 13
REGULATIONS ESTABLISHING REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS DESIGNATED 14
AS AN ASSISTANT STATE FIRE MARSHAL OR A SPECIAL ASSISTANT STATE FIRE 15
MARSHAL UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(1) OF THIS SECTION, INCLUDING: 16
(I) MINIMUM TRAINING , CERTIFICATION, AND OTHER 17
STANDARDS RELATING TO FIRE INSPECTION; 18
(II) MINIMUM TRAINING , CERTIFICATION, AND OTHER 19
STANDARDS FOR FIRE P LAN REVIEW , A FIRE PLAN EXAMINER , OR FIRE PLAN 20
ENGINEERING STAFF; 21
(III) MINIMUM TRAINING , CERTIFICATION, AND OTHER 22
STANDARDS RELATING TO FIRE INSPECTION INVESTIGATION; 23
(IV) ACCEPTABLE MINIMUM S TANDARDS FOR THE ELI GIBILITY 24
OF AN INDIVIDUAL TO SERVE AS AN ASSISTANT STATE FIRE MARSHAL OR A SPECIAL 25
ASSISTANT STATE FIRE MARSHAL; AND 26
(V) POLICIES FOR APPLICATION FOR, REVIEW OF, EXPIRATION 27
OF, RENEWAL OF, AND PROBATIONARY STATUS FOR THE POSITION S OF ASSISTANT 28
STATE FIRE MARSHAL AND SPECIAL ASSISTANT STATE FIRE MARSHAL. 29
(2) The State Fire Marshal may administer an examination based on 30
NFPA [Standard 1031] STANDARDS AS RELEVANT FOR THE REQUIREMEN TS LISTED 31
IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION before designating an individual as an 32
assistant State fire marshal OR SPECIAL ASSISTANT STATE FIRE MARSHAL. 33
SENATE BILL 513 3
(c) (1) The State Fire Marshal may designate as a special assistant State fire 1
marshal: 2
(i) a law enforcement officer involved in arson investigations; 3
(ii) any other suitable individual who meets the standards 4
established under this section; or 5
(iii) on the advice of an assistant State fire marshal, a member of a 6
fire department if: 7
1. the designee is a full –time employee of the fire 8
department; 9
2. the designee performs fire inspections or fire 10
investigations for the fire department; and 11
3. the fire department is organized and operates in the State. 12
(2) A special assistant State fire marshal serves at the pleasure of the State 13
Fire Marshal. 14
(3) A special assistant State fire marshal may not receive compensation 15
from the State. 16
(4) Each special assistant State fire marshal shall assist the State Fire 17
Marshal in carrying out the duties of the State Fire Marshal under this title. 18
(d) The Commission may remove an assistant or special assistant State fire 19
marshal for just cause by a majority decision: 20
(1) on the recommendation of the State Fire Marshal; and 21
(2) after an administrative hearing. 22
9–102. 23
(a) (1) In this section, “high –rise building” means a building [for human 24
occupancy that is: 25
(i) seven or more stories above grade level; or 26
(ii) over 75 feet in height] WHERE THE FLOOR OF AN OCCUPIABLE 27
STORY IS GREATER THAN 75 FEET ABOVE THE LOWEST LEVEL OF FIRE DEPARTMENT 28
VEHICLE ACCESS. 29
(2) “High–rise building” does not include: 30
4 SENATE BILL 513
(i) a structure or building used exclusively for open–air parking; or 1
(ii) a building used exclusively for agricultural purposes. 2
(b) This subtitle applies throughout the State, including Baltimore City. 3
(c) (1) An automatic smoke alarm shall be provided in each sleeping area 4
within each residential occup ancy, including one – and two –family dwellings, lodging or 5
rooming houses, hotels, dormitories, and apartment buildings, as defined in NFPA 101: Life 6
Safety Code as adopted by the State Fire Prevention Commission. 7
(2) (i) Beginning July 31, 2025, smoke d etectors shall be installed in 8
accordance with location and spacing requirements established by the National Fire 9
Protection Association in each interior public corridor in a residential rental high –rise 10
building. 11
(ii) A county may not require upgrades to fire safety systems not 12
specified in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph as a condition of issuing a permit for the 13
installation of smoke detectors required under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph. 14
(3) (I) IN THIS PARAGRAPH, “SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATION” MEANS 15
PERMANENT ALTERATIONS THAT: 16
1. ARE INTENDED TO ENHA NCE THE VALUE OF A 17
BUILDING; AND 18
2. COST AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN 40% 19
OF THE VALUE OF THE BUILDING AS ASSESSED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF 20
ASSESSMENTS AND TAXATION.; AND 21
3. MEET THE CRITERIA FOR SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATION 22
UNDER ANY APPLICABLE LOCAL LAW. 23
(II) BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2026, AUTOMATIC FIRE 24
SPRINKLERS SHALL BE INSTALLED IN ACCORDA NCE WITH NFPA LIFE SAFETY 25
CODE AND NFPA STANDARDS IN EACH RESIDENTIAL RENTAL HIGH–RISE BUILDING 26
THAT IS UNDERGOING A SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATI ON THAT RECEIVES BUILDI NG 27
PERMITS ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 1, 2026. 28
(III) IN DETERMINING WHETHE R A PROPOSED SUBSTAN TIAL 29
RENOVATION IS INTENDED TO ENHANCE THE VALUE OF A BUILDING EXCLUSIVE OF 30
LAND VALUE , A COU NTY MAY CONSIDER BUILDING IMPROVEMENT S COMPLETED 31
OVER A 4–YEAR TIME PERIOD FROM THE DATE OF THE INITIAL BUILDING PERMIT.: 32
SENATE BILL 513 5
1. THE EXISTING PHYSICAL CONDITION OF THE RENTAL 1
HOUSING; 2
2. WHETHER THE EXISTING PHYSICAL CONDITION 3
IMPAIRS OR TENDS TO IMPAIR THE HEALTH , SAFETY, AND SECURITY OF ANY 4
TENANT; 5
3. WHETHER THE DEFICIEN CIES IN THE EXISTING 6
PHYSICAL CONDITIONS COULD INSTEAD BE COR RECTED BY IMPROVED 7
MAINTENANCE OR REPAIR; AND 8
4. WHETHER THE PROPOSED RENOVATIONS ARE 9
OPTIONAL OR COSMETIC CHANGES. 10
(IV) A SUBSTANTIALLY RENOVA TED RESIDENTIAL RENT AL 11
HIGH–RISE BUILDING SHALL ALSO HAVE THE FOLLOW ING FIRE PROTECTION AND 12
LIFE SAFETY FEATURES: 13
1. SMOKE ALARMS OR HEAT DETECTORS IN EVERY 14
SLEEPING AREA; 15
2. STAIRWELLS ENCLOSED WITH AT LEAST 2–HOUR FIRE 16
RESISTANCE RATED CONSTRUCTION WITH AT LEAST 90–MINUTE FIRE RESISTANCE 17
RELATED RATED, SELF–CLOSING, AND SELF–LATCHING DOORS; 18
3. AT LEAST 20–MINUTE FIRE RESISTAN CE RATED 19
CORRIDOR DOORS UNLESS PARTIAL SPRIN KLER PROTECTION IS P ROVIDED WITH 20
APPROPRIATELY RATED CORRIDOR WALLS; 21
4. SMOKEPROOF EXIT ENCL OSURES VIA NATURAL 22
VENTILATION, MECHANICAL VENTILATI ON INCORPORATING A V ESTIBULE, OR 23
PRESSURIZING THE STAIR ENCLOSURE; 24
5. AT LEAST TWO SMOKE C OMPARTMENTS ON EACH 25
FLOOR; AND 26
6. DECREASED MAXIMUM EXIT ACC ESS TRAVEL 27
DISTANCES INADEQUATE FIRE PUMPS REPLACED WHEN NECESSARY. 28
(d) Smoke alarms shall: 29
(1) be installed in accordance with NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and 30
Signaling Code as referenced by the State Fire Prevention Code; 31
6 SENATE BILL 513
(2) be listed and labeled by a nationally recognized testing laboratory to 1
comply with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 217, “Standard for safety for single and 2
multiple station smoke alarms”; 3
(3) be suitable for sensing visible or invisible products of combustion; and 4
(4) sound an alarm suitable to warn the occupants. 5
(e) Local jurisdictions may adopt smoke alarm regulations that are more 6
stringent than the provisions of this subtitle. 7
9–901. 8
(A) In this subtitle [, “fire ] THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 9
INDICATED. 10
(B) “FIRE ALARM SYSTEM TECHNICIAN” MEANS A PERSON WHO IS ENGAGED 11
IN THE PERFORMANCE , INSTALLATION, DOCUMENTATION, PLANNING, AND 12
COORDINATION OF THE PERIODIC INSPECTION AND TESTING OF EXIST ING FIRE 13
ALARM SYSTEMS AND TH EIR COMPONENTS, NOT INCLUDING THE CO MMISSIONING 14
OF NEW SYSTEMS. 15
(C) “FIRE sprinkler contractor” means a person who designs, installs, inspects, 16
tests, repairs, or modifies a fire sprinkler system. 17
9–902. 18
(a) (1) The State Fire Prevention Commission shall adopt regulations to 19
establish a program to license and regulate fire sprinkler contractors in the State. 20
[(b)] (2) The State Fire Prevention Commission shall adopt regulations to: 21
[(1)] (I) define fire sprinkler contractor; 22
[(2)] (II) define fire sprinkler system[,] in a manner that does not conflict 23
with § 12–101(l), (m), or (n) of the Business Occupations and Professions Article; 24
[(3)] (III) designate and identify exemptions to the regulations; 25
[(4)] (IV) establish requirements for licensure including professional and 26
technical standards and requirements for liability insurance; 27
[(5)] (V) establish a schedule of fees for licenses that will recover but not 28
exceed the direct and indirect costs associated with the issuance of the licenses; and 29
SENATE BILL 513 7
[(6)] (VI) establish procedures for the State Fire Marshal to deny, suspend, 1
or revoke the license of a person who fails to comply with any regulation adopted by the 2
State Fire Prevention Commission under this subtitle. 3
(B) (1) THE STATE FIRE PREVENTION COMMISSION SHALL ADOP T 4
REGULATIONS TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO LICENSE AND REGULATE FIRE ALARM 5
SYSTEM TECHNICIANS AND FIRE ALARM SYSTEM COMPANIES IN THE STATE. 6
(2) THE STATE FIRE PREVENTION COMMISSION SHALL ADOP T 7
REGULATIONS TO: 8
(I) DEFINE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM TECHNICIAN; 9
(II) DEFINE FIRE ALARM SYSTEM IN A MANNER THAT DOES NOT 10
CONFLICT WITH § 12–101(L), (M), OR (N) OF THE BUSINESS OCCUPATIONS AND 11
PROFESSIONS ARTICLE; 12
(III) DESIGNATE AND IDENTI FY EXEMPTIONS TO THE 13
REGULATIONS; 14
(IV) ESTABLISH REQUIREMEN TS FOR LICENSURE , INCLUDING 15
PROFESSIONAL AND TEC HNICAL STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR LIA BILITY 16
INSURANCE; 17
(V) ESTABLISH A SCHEDULE OF FEES FOR LICENSES THAT WILL 18
RECOVER BUT NOT EXCE ED THE DIRECT AND IN DIRECT COSTS ASSOCIA TED WITH 19
THE ISSUANCE OF THE LICENSES; AND 20
(VI) ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL 21
TO DENY, SUSPEND, OR REVOKE THE LICENSE OF A PERSON WHO FAILS TO COMPLY 22
WITH ANY REGULATION ADOPTED BY THE STATE FIRE PREVENTION COMMISSION 23
UNDER THIS SUBTITLE. 24
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 25
October 1, 2026. 26