Legislative Update for the 2025/2026 Session # 9

There have been several new bills introduced that will affect the fire and emergency services, as well as citizen safety. (See complete list of bills at the end of this Update)

Here are a two specific ones of higher impact.

Senate Bill 0492 | Single Stair Bldg. Code Reform

THIS WILL AMEND THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BUILDING CODE TO AUTHORIZE SINGLE-EXIT STAIRWAYS IN CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS. THIS LEGISLATION HAS PASSED IN OTHER STATES AND CREATES AN OBVIOUS CONCERN FOR MULTI-STORY RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, CREATING EXITING CONCERNS DURING FIRE AND EMERGENCIES.

Senate Bill 0700 | Create the Office of Engineering and Codes

THIS BILL WILL TRANSFER MOST OF THE BUILDING, RESIDENTIAL, AND MAUFACTURING CODES FROM THE OFFICE OF STATE FIRE MARSHAL TO THE NC DEPARTMENT OF LABOR . IT ALSO TRANSFERS THE CODE QUALIFICATIONS BOARD AND OVERSIGHT OF LOCAL INSPECTION DEPARTMENTS TO NCDOL. OBVIOUSLY THIS WILL REMOVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FIRE SERVICE INPUT TO CODES AND REGUALTIONS, IMPACTING THE SAFETY OF CITIZENS AND FIREFIGHTERS.

As Legislative Day draws closer, here is the priority activity going on in the Legislature. When scheduling your appointments with your legislators, they may ask what topic you’d like to discuss. Here is a good list to start from.

Priority! HB 37 & SB 86 – Increases monthly pension fund benefits from $175 to $180 without an increase in appropriations or premiums, and adds fire service representation to the State EMS Advisory Council.

Priority! HB 97 & SB 97 – Changes “Cancers of the small intestine” in the LODD benefit to “Gastric Cancers”, better defining coverage

Priority! HB 276 & SB 226 – Provides that any cancer covered under the Firefighter Cancer Benefit Program, or the pilot, would also be covered under LODD benefits, significantly increasing the number of cancers covered.

Support! – HB 22 – Investigation authority for OSFM; HB 137 – Gabe Torres act provides that traveling to duty is covered under LODD; SB 62- Allows taxes on certain purchases to be refundable for VFD’s.

Monitor and Support! Legislation that benefits the fire service, or fire education and prevention of fires.

Monitor and Oppose! Legislation that has a negative impact on the fire service, or fire education and prevention of fires.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR NEW LEGISLATION AS IT IS INTRODUCED AND HEARD BEFORE COMMITTEES. NEXT WEEK IS THE CLOSING DATE FOR ANY NEW BILLS THIS SESSION, SO BY THAT TIME WE WILL HAVE A DEFINED LIST TO FOLLOW.

LEGISLATIVE DAY 2025 SCHEDULED APRIL 30TH

Please Mark Your Calendars and Plan to Attend!

Tim Bradley, Executive Director, NCSFA

Steven Roberson, 1st VP, NCSFA

Barry Overman, Incoming Executive Director, NCSFA

Listed below are the State bills introduced so far this session that we are currently tracking.

Provides authority for the State Fire Marshal office to do Fire Investigations. This was approved in the budget bill last session but was vetoed.

Correction. Sister Bill to SB 86.

In the 5th Edition, it adds in Section 5.12 that the start date of the 2024 building codes have been extended a year.

H 0061 | Assaults on First Responders | Feb 04, 2025 | Feb 06, 2025 – Ref to the Com on Judiciary 2, if favorable, Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House | A. Reece Pyrtle |

Changes Cancers of the Small Intestines to “Cancers of the Stomach and Small Intestines”. Sister Bill to HB 97.

Increases the use, sale, and size of fireworks in NC.

Allows traveling to and from “duty” to be added to training to be covered by LODD

To an extent, allows law enforcement to utilize cell phone tracking information under certain emergencies.

H 0215 | Protect Charlotte Firefighters’ Ret. System | Feb 25, 2025 | Feb 27, 2025 – Ref to the Com on Pensions and Retirement, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House | Mike Clampitt |

Provides protection for Charlotte Firefighters retirement system against breach of data.

H 0219 | Counties/Franchise Ambulance Service | Feb 25, 2025 | Feb 27, 2025 – Ref to the Com on Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery, if favorable, State and Local Government, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House | Mark Pless |

Allows the flying of a freedom flag under the American and State flag on 9/11 for remembrance.

Companion bill to HB 272 and allows Law Enforcement Officers to purchase up to four years in the retirement system if the complete certain law enforcement certifications.

This bill is a sister bill to Cancer Bill (Senate Bill 226) and again was introduced to provide that any Cancer Covered Under The Firefighters’ Cancer Insurance Program under GS 58-86A, or the original Firefighters’ Health Benefit Pilot Program, would be covered under the LODD program under GS 143-166.2(6), adding to the original 6 cancers currently covered. This would greatly increase the number of cancers covered by LODD and provide expanded Line of Duty Death Benefits for firefighter families and dependents.

H 0300 | Vet Care for Retired First Responder Dogs | Mar 05, 2025 | Mar 06, 2025 – Ref to the Com on Homeland Security and Military and Veterans Affairs, if favorable, Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House | Karl E. Gillespie |

Allows owners of retired service dogs to get reimbursed for Veterinarian services.

_{Directs the NC Residential Code Council and Building Code Council to create a family child care classification within the State Building Code.}

The purpose of the study is for the Legislative Research Commission to examine current trends, problems, and opportunities confronting rural fire departments 8 and suggest funding and other legislative actions needed to keep those fire departments fiscally 9 sound and mission effective.

Safe Kids NC is in support of this Bill, They collaborated with the NC Child Fatality Task force to get it introduced. Basically, its just an update to our existing law and coincides with current best practice standards.

H 0387 | Eliminate Tax on Gov’t Retirees | Mar 12, 2025 | Mar 13, 2025 – Ref to the Com on State and Local Government, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House | Mike Schietzelt |

Exempts Income received from a State, Local (LGERS), or Federal Government retirement plan exempt from State Income Tax.

Establishes a supplemental insurance policy for First Responders Diagnosed with Mental Health Conditions to be administered by the Department of Insurance.

Section 2 Involves Technical corrections to assaults’ on firefighters

H 0489 | Insurance Coverage Emergency Ambulance Trans | Mar 24, 2025 | Mar 25, 2025 – Ref to the Com on Health, if favorable, Insurance, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House | Donnie Loftis |

Requires the review of all State Commissions and Committees not previously reviewed.

Allows sales tax on certain capital purchases by volunteer FDs to be refundable.

Correction. Sister Bill to SB 86.

Changes Cancers of the Small Intestines to “Cancers of the Stomach and Small Intestines”. Sister Bill to HB 97.

Increases the sale of fireworks ion NC.

Companion bill to HB 272 and allows Law Enforcement Officers to purchase up to four years in the retirement system if the complete certain law enforcement certifications.

Provides funding to DPS for Community Emergency Response Training

Provides and expands certain immunities for assistance with drug related overdoses under the good Samaritan act.

INCREASE THE PUNISHMENT FOR COMMITTING AN ASSAULT OR AFFRAY AGAINST CERTAIN EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND TO CRIMINALIZE EXPOSING CERTAIN EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TO FENTANYL OR OTHER HARMFUL DRUG OR CHEMICAL AGENTS AND TO APPROPRIATE NONRECURRING FUNDS TO THE NORTH CAROLINA OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES TO DISTRIBUTE AS GRANTS TO USE FOR EQUIPMENT TO PROTECT CERTAIN FIRST RESPONDERS.

REQUIRE LICENSING AND PERMITTING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FIRMS THAT INSTALL AND SERVICE PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS.

AMEND THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BUILDING CODE TO AUTHORIZE SINGLE-EXIT STAIRWAYS IN CERTAIN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS.

Allows collective bargaining for municipal firefighters

Transfers most of the the Building Codes, Residential Code, and Manufactured Housing from OSFM to the Department of Labor.

Legislative Update for the 2025/2026 Session # 9

LEGISLATIVE DAY 2025 SCHEDULED APRIL 30TH

Your NCSFA

Conference and Expo

Resources

Regional Associations

Statewide Agencies

Contact NCSFA

Legislative Update for the 2025/2026 Session # 9

***LEGISLATIVE DAY 2025 SCHEDULED APRIL 30TH***

LEGISLATIVE DAY 2025 SCHEDULED APRIL 30TH