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SB 1299

State Fire Marshal Fire Suppression Education and Training Safety Act.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jesse Arreguín

The bill creates mandatory State Fire Marshal certification/registration for fire sprinkler fitters and requires supervised, credentialed work on all fire suppression systems.

Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on L. & E.
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Bill Summary · SB 1299

Overview

SB 1299, introduced by Senator Arreguín and amended through March 25, 2026, would create the State Fire Marshal Fire Suppression Education and Training Safety Act. It codifies and revises the regulation of fire sprinkler fitters (those who install, alter, repair, maintain, or inspect fire suppression systems) and establishes a mandatory certification/registration framework, supervision requirements, enforcement tools, and associated administrative processes. The act would apply to water- or chemical-based fire suppression systems and would impose penalties for violations.

Purpose and intent

  • Improve reliability and safety of fire suppression systems by ensuring that individuals who install, modify, or service these systems are properly certified or registered.
  • Create a structured progression for workers in the field (trainee, apprentice, and certified fitter) with defined supervision and credentialing requirements.
  • Enable the State Fire Marshal (SFM) to oversee, inspect, and enforce compliance at worksites and to coordinate with local fire authorities as needed.

Key provisions and changes

  • Certification/Registration Requirement
    • Prohibits working on water- or chemical-based fire suppression systems without SFM certification or registration, with certain enumerated exceptions (e.g., residential one- and two-family dwellings, underground water lines to the first joint, preengineered fixed extinguishing systems, routine inspections by authorized personnel).
  • Definitions
    • Establishes terms for alterations, apprentices, trainees, certified fire sprinkler fitters, multifamily residential certification, supervisor requirements, work on a system, and related concepts.
  • Worker Pathways
    • Trainee: must be registered with SFM, employed by a licensed C-16 Fire Protection Contractor, may work up to 90 days before full application, and must enroll in an approved apprenticeship within one year.
    • Apprentice: registered with SFM, employed by a licensed C-16 contractor, may install work only under supervision and within approved program standards.
    • Certified Fire Sprinkler Fitter: must meet program requirements, pass an SFM exam, and receive a certification card. Certifications include commercial (general installation) and multifamily residential (3,500 hours min with at least 2 years’ experience) options; out-of-state applicants have corresponding hour/experience requirements and MITC-based evaluation.
  • Supervision and Contractor Responsibility
    • Direct supervision by a certified fire sprinkler fitter is required for the number of apprentices and up to two trainees. Licensed C-16 contractors must ensure personnel are certified/registered and that supervision ratios are followed.
  • Continuing Education
    • Requires 30 hours of SFM-approved continuing education within a three-year cycle, with up to 10 hours potentially counting from safety-related instruction.
  • Enforcement and Investigations
    • The SFM must notify the local fire authority upon complaints, and either the local authority or the SFM may investigate. Inspections at worksites may verify certifications/registrations; stop-work orders can be issued for noncompliance, with removal of non-authorized components if necessary.
    • Violations carry penalties set by the SFM under applicable regulatory chapters.
  • Administrative and Fees
    • The SFM will establish and collect fees necessary to implement the act, bounded by actual and reasonable costs.
  • Local Reimbursement
    • The act asserts no mandate reimbursements are required for local agencies, subject to standard constitutional rulings on local cost reimbursements.

Who is affected

  • Fire sprinkler fitters (trainees, apprentices, and certified fitters) seeking to work on fire suppression systems.
  • Licensed C-16 Fire Protection Contractors and their supervisory personnel.
  • Local fire authorities and building/inspection agencies involved in enforcement.
  • Owners and operators of facilities with fire suppression systems, who may experience work stoppages or inspections to ensure compliance.

Timeline and procedural notes

  • The bill includes definitions, establishment of the act, and phased credentialing requirements.
  • Enforcement provisions empower ongoing compliance checks and potential stop-work orders.
  • The bill has undergone amendments and has an active status with hearings scheduled in the 2025-2026 session. Specific compliance dates align with the SFM’s regulatory timeline and registration/exam cycles.

This summary outlines the bill’s core structure, requirements, and potential impact on the fire protection trades in California.

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

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