H.B. 45 Fire Code Amendments

What this bill does

This bill adopts the 2024 version of the International Fire Code as the state fire code, as modified for Utah by the Fire Prevention Board. The substitute version sets the effective date to July 1 and removes a Fire Marshal approval requirement for traffic calming devices.

Plain-English summary written by AI from the sponsor’s presentation in committee and on the floor. Check the official text below.

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Every vote

• 70 yes, 3 no, 2 absentFinal House vote · Jan 21, 2026Who voted how
• 4 yes, 0 no, 4 absentSenate Business and Labor Committee: vote to change the bill · Jan 26, 2026Who voted how
• 5 yes, 0 no, 3 absentSenate Business and Labor Committee: vote to approve it · Jan 26, 2026Who voted how
• 25 yes, 0 no, 4 absentFirst of two Senate votes · Feb 4, 2026Who voted how
• 26 yes, 0 no, 3 absentFinal Senate vote · Feb 5, 2026Who voted how
• 68 yes, 1 no, 6 absentHouse vote to accept the other chamber's changes · Feb 9, 2026Who voted how

Hearings and debates

• Jan 21, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (10 turns)

  1. Reading Clerk10:51

     The bill's now circled Madam Reading Clerk House Bill 45 Fire Code Amendments by representative Tom Peterson, Representative Tom Peterson.

  2. Rep. Thomas W. Peterson11:00

     You, Mr. Speaker. Um, I've had a lot of questions about some of the issues that come up with this bill. And so before I present on the bill, I want to present a little bit on what International Building Codes International Codes, uh, represents. You'll hear three bills this session regarding, uh, building code recommendations, fire code recommendations that come from the International Code Council. And I just want to make everybody try to make everybody feel a little bit more at ease. Uh, normally in Utah, when we hear the word international, we get a little, uh, little on edge. Our hair on the hair on the back of our neck starts to stand up. And I just want to, to maybe really quickly educate people on who the International Code Council is. Uh, and the International Code Council is headquartered in Brea, California, Birmingham, Alabama and Chicago, Illinois. It is a, it is a, a company made up of building officials from across our country that come together and create the best code that we can, the best model code that we can for all the states to adopt in our country. And the reason it's called the International Code Council is the goal of the Code Council is to push the codes that we develop here in America out to the rest of the world. It's not that the rest of the world is putting their codes or their industry standards on us. And so I want to make sure that as we talk through these things, we're not adopting international code, we're not adopting international policy. So what this is, and as part of that, I, the International Code Council develops a model code and then there's a process that the state of Utah over multiple years takes these codes and makes sure that they fit Utah. In this case, the Fire Prevention Board, which is, is, uh, underneath the State Fire Marshal's office, spent almost two years reviewing the International Code Council's Fire Code, amending it and made sure that it fit Utah. And what this bill does is it's the recommendation from that Fire Prevention Board a as modified, we adopt the 2024 version of the International Fire Code, um, with, with the, the comments of multiple individuals, uh, who, who take the time, who have the professional knowledge to, to make sure that it fits Utah. And with that, I'll, I'm open to any questions.

  3. Speaker (presiding)13:32

     Thank you Representative Peterson discussion to the bill Representative Shelley,

  4. Rep. Shelley13:39

     I just have a question for the sponsor.

  5. Rep. Thomas W. Peterson13:43

     I'll Use Will yield. Will you yield? Yes. Yes. Thank you. Go ahead. Okay.

  6. Rep. Shelley13:48

     I'll phrase it better the next time. Um, I am wondering if there is some way that we could just call it the Utah Code instead of International Code. I think that would make a lot of us feel better about it since we're always talking about local control and state sovereignty and all that kind of thing. I think it might be better if we had our own code and called it our own code. Is that a possibility?

  7. Rep. Thomas W. Peterson14:16

     Thank you for the question, Mr. Speaker. It, that's a, a great suggestion and in fact, I've been working with the International Code Council on that for over six years. And if you go on the International Code Council's website, we have now got the Code Council to put on their website the Utah Building Code, the Utah Fire Code, the Utah Mechanical Code, the Utah Plumbing Code. So on their website, it is in fact called the Utah Codes. Uh, but the company that develops the codes is the International Code Council. So they have done that and they have been very receptive to do that for us.

  8. Rep. Shelley14:51

     Okay. So I would just like to state that I would prefer that in our statute that our code be referred to as the Utah Code. Thank you.

  9. Speaker (presiding)15:01

     Thank you Representative Chevre. Further discussion to the bill. See none back to your Representative Peterson for summation, I'll waive summation has been wad voting will now be opened on seeing all present, having voted voting is now closed.

  10. Speaker (presiding)16:13

      HB 45 passed this body with 70 yes votes, three no votes will be sent to the Senate for its consideration. Madam Reading Clerk

• Jan 26, 2026 Senate Business and Labor Committee▶ Watch
  Transcript (11 turns)

  1. Committee chair (presiding)52:28

     call Senate bill or House bill 45 Fire code amendments. It looks like you have a substitute. We do. We'd like to move that. Okay. Uh, Senator Musselman, would you move, uh, sub sub one on Senate House bill 45?

  2. Sen. Chris H. Wilson53:02speaker not certain

     Oh, wait a minute. Sorry about that. Yeah. This is house bill 45, right? Uh, yeah. Move. I motion that we are, we, I move that we adopt sub one to house bill 45.

  3. Committee chair (presiding)53:16

     That motion's in order. Any discussion? Place a motion. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Those opposed. Motion passes. You unanimously. Your bill has been substituted.

  4. Rep. Thomas W. Peterson53:27

     Thank you, uh, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. It's a pleasure to be with you. Uh, this, this afternoon I have here with me, uh, Ted, black State Fire Marshal. What a HP 45 does is essentially it takes the recommendation from the PI Fire Prevention Board and adopts the 2024 International Fire Code. Uh, this code's been used in our state for decades and, uh, has served well. The substitute that we adopted made two changes to the what passed the house. The first change it made is normally all of our building code bills go into effect July 1st. Uh, we had on there May 6th, so we had to do a substitute to make that change. And the second thing it does is, uh, it eliminates the requirement for Ophir Marshal or to, to approve, uh, traffic calming devices. We had an, an incident in the Cash Valley where a city wanted to develop some traffic calming and was told that they could not develop traffic calming devices in their city. So, uh, I've never heard that be an issue, but, um, I'll leave that to, to others to speak to. But those are the two things the substitute does. The rest of it just adopts the 2024 International Fire Code in our state. The Fire Prevention Board has spent, uh, literally probably a hundred hours going over the existing, uh, code that we have and comparing it to the 2024 version. And I'll let, uh, Ted speak to that process and the outcome of those, uh, amendments.

  5. Ted Black, Utah State Fire Marshal54:51

     So the codes are, are vetted nationally, but we don't, uh, rely entirely on that. So we take that code and we vet it, uh, here locally, uh, based on Utah standards and our needs here in the state through the Fire Marshals Association. And then they make a presentation and have to prove their point to the State Fire Prevention Board, which they have done. The board has voted to recommend to the, uh, committee that we approve the code. The only really substantive change. There's always minor changes, adjustments, and so forth. But we address the use and, uh, of lithium ion batteries in various ways. Lithium ion batteries are a fabulous invention. They enhance our lives and they also present, uh, a certain fire hazard that, that we have to address. And so, uh, the code has made some strides. We'll probably see this again in, in, uh, further additions of the code. But right now, I think we've got a great product. I believe this, uh, will help ensure a, an acceptable level of risk for the citizens of Utah. And I believe adoption of this code is in the best interest of the citizens of Utah.

  6. Sen. Evan J. Vickers (presiding)55:59

     Thank you. Any further? Presentation representative? That Concludes our presentation. Okay. We'll come back to the committee for any clarifying questions. Seeing none, is there anyone in the public that'd like testify in this bill, please raise your hand here. Is there anyone online? Okay. We'll come back to the committee for any further consideration or action.

  7. Sen. Daniel McCay56:20

     Senator McKay? Yeah, thanks. I'll make a motion that we pass it out with favorable recommendation. As long as the house representative and his summation will tell us that the UN was not involved in drafting, uh, this bill,

  8. Sen. Evan J. Vickers (presiding)56:33

     I think that motion was to favorably recommend HB 45. That's correct. With the caveat, as long he can say that the UN was not involved, I think we'll be all right. Okay. We'll let him take care of that in summation. Thank you. Uh, any discussion to that motion representative? Uh, summation?

  9. Rep. Thomas W. Peterson56:53

     Apparently I need to now, if you want an in-depth report, go watch our testimony on the floor in the house. But, so the International Code Council is a company named the International Code Council, which is a group of national code officials that try to push our, what we believe are the best base model codes to the rest of the world. Um, not the rest of the world trying to push their ideas on us. So like The international, I still haven't heard, I need to hear the exact phrase. So I would think that, That, that, that not not UN is not involved with any of the code development process. Thank You. Okay.

  10. Sen. Evan J. Vickers (presiding)57:28

      Thank you. Uh, Senator McKay, I'll Waive thoroughly pleased. So we'll place that motion, the motion to favorably recommend HB 45. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any posts say nay? Do we have any line, any legislator? Okay. We'll rule that passes as five to zero. Thank you.

  11. Sen. Evan J. Vickers (presiding)1:01:06

      You ready to go? Senator Mikel? Yes. Okay. I think this is the bill everybody's here for. So we'll call item number six on the agenda. Senate bill 45.

• Feb 4, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (5 turns)

  1. Sen. Evan J. Vickers5:17

     Senator Vickers. Thank you Mr. President. Uh, house Bill 45. First substitute is, uh, a bill that went through the interim process, you know, with, with business and labor. And periodically we have to look at our construction trades and other things to bring things up to standards. And this, what this does specifically is it modernizes the state fire code incorporating updated additions of the International fire code and related safety codes. It updates technical and conforming language in existing fire code statutes to reflect current fire safety practices. It removes outdated code sections and restructures how certain fire safety rules are defined and applied public safety enhancement by adopting more recent fire safety codes. The bill aims to improve fire prevention, detection and response across the state. Consistency with national standards and lines with U lines. Utah's fire code with the International Fire Code helps ensure uniform safety expectations for builders, inspectors and emergency responders. There's no, uh, direct cost impact according to the fiscal note. The bill is not expected to material change, state or local spending, or impose direct costs on businesses or residents. And should, it should benefit, you know, general public and occupants of buildings should benefit from enhanced safety measures under more current fire code standards. It does, uh, tend looks to improve life and property safety by using up-to-date fire prevention standards and brings Utah, Utah online with modern fire codes making enforcement cleaner and more effective. With that, Mr. President, I'm open for any questions, Looking for questions. Say no questions. I'm gonna go ahead to you for action.

  2. Sen. Evan J. Vickers7:08

     Thank you Mr. President. I would waive further summation and move that first substitute house. Bill 45. Be read a third time.

  3. Senate President (presiding)7:14

     Thank you. The question is, shall first substitute House Bill 45? Be read a third time roll call vote.

  4. Senate clerk7:18

     Senator Vickers Spery. I Lewin Brammer Bus Comore as Camilla Fillmore Grover Harper Kinins Ipson Johnson Ipson I Juab McKay Mikel Milner Musselman Owens Pitcher Plum Rebe Sandal Stevenson. Today Is easy Stevenson Aye Stratton. Very, very helpful. Bickers Aye. Weiler Aye. Wilson Aye. Winterton Aye. Plus a President Adams Aye.

  5. Senate President (presiding)8:29

     First substitute house Bill 45. Having received 25 yay votes. Zero nay votes. Four being absent shall be read a third time.

• Feb 5, 2026 Senate floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (5 turns)

  1. Sen. Evan J. Vickers9:13

     Senator Vickers, Thank Mr. President. Uh, as we discussed yesterday, hospital 45 updates and amends. Utah State Fire Code to align with most recent national fire safety standards. Just to highlights, uh, modernizes the State Fire Code by incorporating updated additions of the International Fire Code and related Safety Codes. Um, it removes outdated code sections and enhances, uh, public safety by adopting more recent fire safety codes and built aims to improve fire prevention detection response across the state. And should, you know, general public and occupants of of buildings should benefit from enhanced safety measures under more current fire code standards and brings Utah in line with modern fire codes making enforcement clearer and more effective. That I'm open for any questions.

  2. Senate President (presiding)10:09

     Thank you for that presentation. Senator Vickers, no discussion. Return to you for a motion.

  3. Sen. Evan J. Vickers10:16

     Thank you Mr. President. I waive summation and move that first substitute house. Bill 45 pass. Thank

  4. Senate President (presiding)10:21

     You. The question is, shall house bill 41st substitute house bill 45 passed? Roll call vote. Senator Vickers Baldry. Lewin Aye. Brammer Bus Comore Escamia Fillmore Grover Harper Hankins Ipson Johnson. Quan McKay. Mikel Milner. Musselman Owens Pitcher Pitcher Lum Rebi Sandal Stevenson Stratton Vickers Weiler Wilson. Aye. Winterton a President Adams Baldy Aye. President Adams Aye. Aye. First sub, first substitute house Bill 45 Have received 26. Yay. By 26 yay Votes zero nay votes, three being absent, passes his body and will be returned to the house for further consideration. Senator Stevenson, are you, are you ready for a personal privilege? Yeah. Thank you very much. Go. Go ahead. Senator Stevenson.

  5. Sen. Jerry W Stevenson11:53

     Uh, I rise today to, uh, to discuss with you

• Feb 6, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (1 turns)

  1. Speaker (presiding)29:52

     concurrence calendar, First substitute House bill 45 Fire Code Amendments by representative Tom Peterson. This bill, oh no, that's Representative Tom Peterson. Motion to circle that motion is an order to go and place the motion. Representative Peterson is not here so we place the motion. All in favor say aye. Any opposed? Rule that motion passes and first substitute P 45 is circled. Okay. Representatives that moves us to the house.

• Feb 9, 2026 House floor debate▶ Watch
  Transcript (9 turns)

  1. Speaker (presiding)7:12

     And then we will go ahead and just revote that so that it logs it correctly. So that's where, where we're gonna go. And then we'll move into the house concurrence calendar. So with that, let's go to Representative Tom Peterson.

  2. Rep. Thomas W. Peterson7:24

     Thank you Mr. Speaker. Motion to encircle. First substitute HB 45. That

  3. Speaker (presiding)7:28

     Motion is in order. Uh, do you need to say anything more to that? Okay. Go ahead and place the motion. The motion before is the House encircles first substitute HB 45. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Rule that motion passes the bill's been encircled and before the body for its consideration. Back to your Representative Peterson.

  4. Rep. Thomas W. Peterson7:47

     Thank you Mr. Speaker. Motion to concur.

  5. Speaker (presiding)7:50

     That motion is in order. Would you like to speak to it?

  6. Rep. Thomas W. Peterson7:52

     I think I already have.

  7. Speaker (presiding)7:55

     Uh, we'll go ahead and place the motion. The motion before us is the House concur with the Senate amendments on first substitute HB 45. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Rule that motion passes voting will now be open for final passage on first substitute HB 45.

  8. Unknown speaker8:22speaker not certain

     Maybe might not work again. What's that?

  9. Speaker (presiding)10:48

     Okay, representative. Let's try it now. There we go. Voting's. Now open on first substitute HB 45 vote quickly. Representatives, scene, uh, Representative Kohler, would you like to vote? Representative Kohler, would you like to vote? Seeing all present, having voted voting is now closed. First substitute HB 45 passed this body with 68 Yes. Votes one, no vote will be sent to the Senate, or sorry, signed by the speaker