Bill
SB 25-142
Extends local nine-month deadline for local governments to adopt wildfire-resiliency codes after board action; enables enforcement via cooperative agreements or state support.
Status and key dates
- Introduced: February 5, 2025
- Governor signed: June 3, 2025 (became law effective June 3, 2025)
- Final bill sponsor: Sen. Baisley; House primary sponsor: Rep. Velasco
Purpose
- To adjust how and when local governments implement wildfire-resiliency building and fire codes developed by the Wildfire Resiliency Code Board, and to clarify enforcement options for those local codes.
Summary of key provisions
- Extends local adoption deadline: An "adopting governing body" (a local governmental entity with authority over an area within the wildland‑urban interface and authority to adopt building or fire codes) must adopt wildfire-resiliency codes that meet or exceed the board's minimum standards within nine months (previously three months) after the board adopts those codes.
- Defines terminology: Adds a statutory definition of "adopting governing body" and defines "cooperative agreement" (an agreement between an adopting governing body and at least one other entity — e.g., another government or third‑party contractor — to provide code enforcement).
- Enforcement options: Local enforcement of adopted codes may be carried out under the adopting governing body’s existing rules and regulations, or through a cooperative agreement.
- State enforcement support: If an adopting governing body lacks enforcement rules or a cooperative agreement, it may request inspection and enforcement support from the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (in the Department of Public Safety). The division may charge reasonable inspection/enforcement fees; civil penalties collected under related authority are deposited into the code board cash fund.
- Board oversight and petitions: The bill preserves the board’s ability to review local codes for compliance and the existing petition process for local code modifications; it requires cooperation from local governments during board reviews.
Who is affected
- Local governments (counties, municipalities) that have jurisdiction in areas designated as within the wildland‑urban interface (WUI) — they receive more time to adopt codes and have a clearer option to enter cooperative enforcement agreements or request state assistance.
- The Wildfire Resiliency Code Board and the Division of Fire Prevention and Control (administration/oversight and potential inspection/enforcement support).
- Property owners and developers in affected WUI areas (subject to local adoption and enforcement of the codes).
- Potential fiscal impacts are primarily at the local level for mapping/adoption/enforcement; the final fiscal note indicates no required state appropriation and no state fiscal impact.
Implementation and procedural notes
- The board’s adoption schedule of statewide codes remains the triggering event for the local adoption deadline (locals now have nine months after that adoption).
- Compliance periods for property‑level compliance remain tied to local rules or a three‑month period after local adoption, whichever is sooner (per statute language governing compliance periods).
- Final fiscal and legislative documents show earlier drafts proposed broader changes (board membership, statutory WUI definition, county WUI maps and extended statewide adoption timelines), but the enacted law focuses on adoption timing and enforcement mechanisms described above.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
