HB 1064 Summary

• Establishes the Office of the State Fire Marshal within the Department of Law Enforcement (effective July 1, 2025) with expanded statutory authority over statewide fire safety, wildfire prevention, fire investigations, and emergency resource coordination.

• Creates a State Fire Marshal Selection Commission (beginning January 1, 2026) consisting of 7 members with authority to appoint and remove the state fire marshal; includes 3 governor-appointed members (subject to senate confirmation), 1 speaker-appointed member, 1 senate president-appointed member, and 2 ex officio nonvoting members.

• Grants the state fire marshal authority to establish minimum defensible space requirements (in consultation with the state fire council), conduct fire investigations, inspect state buildings, oversee fire inspector/investigator training, and develop community risk reduction programs.

• Modifies the State Fire Council's role to advise the governor and state fire marshal on fire policy (removing the council's appointment power over the state fire marshal) and places the council within the Department of Law Enforcement rather than the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

• Appropriates $2,212,000 for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to fund the office operations, including positions for 1 state fire marshal, 1 deputy, 2 fire inspectors, 3 fire investigators, and 1 office assistant.