POLISCOPE
Back to bills
Part ofConstruction →

The civic record

Read. Follow. Verify.
HB 45UTAHSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

Utah updates state fire code standards and revises municipal rules for construction and alarms

Original title: Fire Code Amendments

Last action · March 13, 2026: Governor SignedSponsors: Tom Peterson and 1 other

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.

What This Bill Does

Utah enacts House Bill 45 to modify the State Fire Code Act, adopting updated national standards from the and National Fire Protection Association, establishing new school safety alarm and sprinkler provisions, and setting a July 1, 2026 effective date.

Why it matters

Changes construction safety mandates, building inspection requirements, and fire protection system standards for schools, residential facilities, and commercial properties across Utah.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

School districts and private schools

Educational facilities must comply with revised fire alarm system mandates, carbon monoxide detection placement rules, shelter-in-place standards for special education classrooms, and updated emergency evacuation drill schedules.

Directly affected

Construction contractors and developers

Builders must adhere to updated International Fire Code standards, fire pump and riser room dimension requirements, temporary road standards on construction sites, and professional certification prerequisites for system layouts.

Directly affected

Local fire code officials

Officials are granted specific administrative authorities to determine emergency requirements, issue key box rules, review emergency orders, and approve shelter-in-place or delayed evacuation provisions.

Directly affected

Assisted living and child care facility operators

Facilities must meet updated occupancy classifications, licensing linkages, and safety requirements specified under the revised fire code definitions.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What edition of the International Fire Code does this bill incorporate?
The bill incorporates the 2024 edition of the , replacing the previous 2021 edition.
Are special education classrooms permitted to delay evacuation during a fire alarm?
Yes, special education classrooms may shelter in place or delay evacuation if there is no visible flame or smoke, the building is protected by approved fire sprinkler and alarm systems, the room has a direct exterior exit, and the arrangement is approved by the fire code official.
What are the new rules regarding fireworks and hazardous environmental conditions?
Municipal legislative bodies and the state forester may prohibit the ignition or use of ignition sources and fireworks in hazardous areas like mountainous, brush-covered, or dry grass-covered zones when historical or current hazardous environmental conditions exist, provided they publish boundary maps and notices.
When does this legislation take effect?
The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Follow the record

Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

48 actions
  1. Mar 13, 2026Lieutenant Governor's office for filingEnrolled
    Governor Signed
  2. Mar 3, 2026House
    House/ to Governor
  3. Mar 3, 2026House
    House/ received enrolled bill from Printing
  4. Mar 2, 2026House
    House/ enrolled bill to Printing
  5. Mar 2, 2026Clerk of the House
    Enrolled Bill Returned to House or Senate
  6. Feb 12, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Draft of Enrolled Bill Prepared
Show 42 earlier actions
  1. Feb 12, 2026Legislative Research and General Counsel / Enrolling
    Bill Received from House for Enrolling
  2. Feb 10, 2026House
    House/ signed by Speaker/ sent for enrolling
  3. Feb 10, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  4. Feb 10, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House
  5. Feb 10, 2026Senate
    Senate/ signed by President/ returned to House
  6. Feb 10, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  7. Feb 9, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  8. Feb 9, 2026House
    House/ concurs with Senate amendment
  9. Feb 9, 2026House
    House/ uncircled
  10. Feb 6, 2026House
    House/ circled
  11. Feb 5, 2026House
    House/ placed on Concurrence Calendar
  12. Feb 5, 2026House
    House/ received from Senate
  13. Feb 5, 2026Senate
    Senate/ to House with amendments
  14. Feb 5, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 3rd reading
  15. Feb 5, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 3rd reading
  16. Feb 4, 2026SenateFloor
    Senate/ passed 2nd reading
  17. Feb 4, 2026Senate
    Senate/ 2nd reading
  18. Jan 27, 2026Senate
    Senate/ placed on 2nd Reading Calendar
  19. Jan 27, 2026Senate
    Senate/ comm rpt/ substituted
  20. Jan 26, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Favorable Recommendation
  21. Jan 26, 2026Senate
    Senate Comm - Substitute Recommendation
  22. Jan 26, 2026SenateCommittee
    Senate/ to standing committee
  23. Jan 23, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0045S01
  24. Jan 23, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0045S01
  25. Jan 22, 2026Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0045S01
  26. Jan 22, 2026Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0045S01
  27. Jan 22, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Senate/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  28. Jan 21, 2026Senate
    Senate/ received from House
  29. Jan 21, 2026House
    House/ to Senate
  30. Jan 21, 2026HouseFloor
    House/ passed 3rd reading
  31. Jan 21, 2026House
    House/ 3rd reading
  32. Jan 20, 2026House
    House/ 2nd reading
  33. Jan 20, 2026House
    House/ Rules to 3rd Reading Calendar
  34. Jan 20, 2026HouseIntroduced
    House/ 1st reading (Introduced)
  35. Jan 14, 2026House
    House/ received fiscal note from Fiscal Analyst
  36. Jan 14, 2026House
    House/ received bill from Legislative Research
  37. Jan 2, 2026Released
    LFA/ fiscal note publicly available for HB0045
  38. Jan 2, 2026Version Sponsor
    LFA/ fiscal note sent to sponsor for HB0045
  39. Dec 18, 2025Legislative Fiscal Agency
    LFA/ bill sent to agencies for fiscal input for HB0045
  40. Dec 18, 2025Legislative Fiscal Analyst
    LFA/ bill assigned to staff for fiscal analysis for HB0045
  41. Dec 18, 2025Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Numbered Bill Publicly Distributed
  42. Dec 18, 2025Legislative Research and General Counsel
    Bill Numbered but not Distributed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Tom PetersonHouse · District 1RepublicanPrimary sponsor
Evan VickersSenate · District 28RepublicanCosponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift99% confidence

Adoption of 2024 National Fire Standards

The legislation shifts Utah's baseline fire safety framework from 2021 codes to the 2024 International Fire Code and updated NFPA standards.

International Code Council, Inc.National Fire Protection Association

Connected Entities

Department of Environmental Quality, International Code Council, Inc., State Fire Marshal Division and 4 more
OrganizationDepartment of Environmental Quality“Issues temporary closure notices for underground tanks out of service for longer”Map →
OrganizationInternational Code Council, Inc.“Issuing body of the International Fire Code”Map →
OrganizationState Fire Marshal Division“Reviews main fire alarm panel locations and inspects carbon monoxide detection s”Map →
OrganizationNational Fire Protection Association“Publishing body for national fuel gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and fire alarm c”Map →
OrganizationUtah Fire Prevention Board“Makes rules governing fire alarm systems and day care rules”Map →
OrganizationNational Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies“Provides certification for fire sprinkler and alarm system layout designers”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Health and Human Services“Licenses ambulatory surgical centers, assisted living facilities, and child care”Map →

Sources

Open source document

le.utah.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy15
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

Publisher tools

Share or embed this record

POLISCOPE publisher tools

Share or embed this record