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Bill Summary · HB 899

HB 899 — “Return Oversight of Office of State Fire Marshal to DOI Commissioner”

Status: Passed 1st Reading (referred to Rules, Calendar & Operations of the House)
Introduced: Nov 12, 2024 (filed); Sponsors: Rep. Blust (primary drafter); additional primary sponsors listed include Josh Bonner, David Jenkins, Rob Leverett, Beth Camp, and others.
Effective date (as written): October 1, 2025

Main purpose

HB 899 restores administrative oversight of the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) to the Commissioner of the Department of Insurance (DOI), eliminating the OSFM’s independent status created by recent session law. The bill reconsolidates authority, personnel administration, board appointments, and rulemaking oversight under the DOI Commissioner.

Key provisions

  • Repeals statutory provisions that created or preserved OSFM independence:
    • Section 30.8 of S.L. 2023-134;
    • Parts X, XI, and XII of S.L. 2023-151;
    • Section 6.4 of S.L. 2021-1.
  • Employee and position continuity:
    • All OSFM employees as of Oct 1, 2025, may remain as Office employees (at their option) until the Commissioner takes action under law.
    • All OSFM positions existing on Oct 1, 2025, remain in place unless the General Assembly changes them.
  • Transition and continuity for rules and identifiers:
    • Rules adopted by the State Fire Marshal under Chapters 58 or 143 remain effective until amended by the Commissioner under Chapter 150B (administrative rulemaking).
    • Existing fire department identification numbers (FDIDs) issued by OSFM remain valid for their statutory purposes.
  • Boards, trustees, and designees:
    • Representative trustee and designees appointed under various fire-related statutes will continue to serve but now at the pleasure or discretion of the DOI Commissioner.
    • Current board/commission members appointed by the State Fire Marshal may finish their terms; successors will be appointed by the Commissioner in accordance with statute.
  • Categorical scope:
    • The bill is targeted at organizational governance and administrative control; it does not itself change substantive fire-safety standards or programmatic duties, though subsequent action by the Commissioner could.

Who is affected

  • OSFM staff and management (reporting and supervision change).
  • DOI Commissioner (gains direct operational authority over OSFM).
  • Boards, trustees, and panels tied to OSFM appointments.
  • Local fire departments and entities that use FDID numbers or interact administratively with OSFM.
  • Stakeholders subject to OSFM rules (rules remain in force but may be amended by DOI).

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Effective date set for October 1, 2025.
  • Transition language preserves employee status, existing rules, and identifiers during the handover.
  • HB 899 was reported as Passed 1st Reading and referred to the Rules committee (House) on April 14, 2025.

Potential impact

  • Administrative centralization: consolidates oversight and appointment authority with the DOI Commissioner, allowing for unified management, potential reorganization, or policy/prioritization changes at the OSFM.
  • Regulatory continuity with flexibility: existing OSFM rules continue in force, minimizing immediate disruption; future rule changes will proceed through the DOI and Chapter 150B processes.
  • Operational uncertainty for staff and boards: while immediate continuity is preserved, ultimate supervisory control and successor appointments shift to the Commissioner, which could change governance and operational priorities.

This summary focuses on statutory and administrative changes proposed by HB 899. The bill is organizational in nature; any downstream policy or fiscal effects would depend on implementation decisions by the DOI Commissioner and later legislative action.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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