Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia SB501: Office of the Safety Fire Commissioner; update provisions
Status: Passed both chambers, April 2, 2026
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 8 and 25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to buildings and housing and fire protection and safety, respectively, so as to improve government efficiency by updating provisions of the office of the Safety Fire Commissioner; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend Titles 8 and 25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to buildings and housing and fire protection and safety, respectively, so as to improve government efficiency by updating provisions of the office of the Safety Fire Commissioner; to provide for procedures for rules promulgation, hearings, and appeals; to provide for the appointment of a deputy commissioner of safety fire; to provide for such position's duties and powers; to provide for the payment of expenses of certain employees; to provide for subpoena power…
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED To amend Titles 8 and 25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to buildings and housing and fire protection and safety, respectively, so as to improve government efficiency by updating provisions of the office of the Safety Fire Commissioner; to provide for procedures for rules promulgation, hearings, and appeals; to provide for the appointment of a deputy commissioner of safety fire; to provide for such position's duties and powers; to provide for the payment of expenses of certain employees; to provide for subpoena power; to establish an appeals board to review certain rulings on building permits; to provide for membership and powers of such board; to provide for review of all actions and documentation of deputized personnel; to authorize evacuation orders; to provide for petitions for a rule nisi; to provide for final authority; to provide for certain powers in suspected arson investigations; to provide for immediate reporting of fatalities caused by fire or smoke; to provide for suspension or revocation of a license; to provide for an increased fee for failing to maintain a smoke detector; to provide for an increased reinspection fee; to establish permanent consumer fireworks sales facilities; to establish temporary consumer fireworks sales facilities; to increase the number of temporary consumer retail fireworks sales facilities a distributor may operate; …