SB1299 - State Fire Marshal Fire Sprinkler Fitter Certification Act.

Enrolled August 27, 2026 Passed IN Senate August 25, 2026 Passed IN Assembly August 24, 2026 Amended IN Assembly August 17, 2026 Amended IN Assembly August 12, 2026 Amended IN Assembly June 17, 2026 Amended IN Senate May 14, 2026 Amended IN Senate March 25, 2026 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 1299 Introduced by Senator Arreguín February 20, 2026 An act to add Chapter 1.6 (commencing with Section 13191) to Part 2 of Division 12 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to fire suppression. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1299, Arreguín. State Fire Marshal Fire Sprinkler Fitter Certification Act. Existing law authorizes the State Fire Marshal to propose, adopt, and administer the regulations that the State Fire Marshal deems necessary in order to ensure fire safety in buildings and structures within this state, including regulations related to construction, modification, installation, testing, inspection, labeling, listing, certification, registration, licensing, reporting, operation, and maintenance. Existing law authorizes the State Fire Marshal to establish and collect reasonable fees necessary to implement these provisions. Under existing law, the State Fire Marshal has enacted regulations for the certification and regulation of fire sprinkler fitters pursuant to the above-described authority. A violation of these regulations is a misdemeanor. This bill, the State Fire Marshal Fire Sprinkler Fitter Certification Act, would codify and revise and recast the above-described regulations for the certification and regulation of fire sprinkler fitters. The bill would prohibit a person from working on a fire suppression system, as defined, without first being certified or registered by the State Fire Marshal, except as provided. The bill would establish training and other application requirements for a fire sprinkler fitter trainee, a fire sprinkler fitter apprentice, and a certified fire sprinkler fitter. The bill would impose specified supervision requirements and would require a licensed fire protection contractor or public entity, as applicable, to ensure the people it assigns to work on a fire suppression system are appropriately certified or registered. This bill would enumerate the powers and duties of the State Fire Marshal with regard to the act. Upon receipt of a written complaint of an alleged violation of the act, the bill would require the State Fire Marshal to notify the local fire authority (authority) having jurisdiction and request that the authority investigate the complaint. If the authority is unable to investigate, the bill would require the authority to notify the State Fire Marshal within 5 days of receiving the notification and would authorize the State Fire Marshal to investigate. By imposing new duties on local entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would authorize the State Fire Marshal or the authority to inspect project worksites, subject a person who violates the act to a notice of violation or correction order and subject components of the fire suppression system to removal, and, if the condition is not corrected immediately, issue a stop work order. The bill would require the State Fire Marshal to implement provisions related to the administrative processes and fees applicable to fire sprinkler fitter trainees, apprentices, and certified professionals, and to penalize violators of the act, as provided. The bill would also authorize the State Fire Marshal to establish and collect fees no greater than the actual and reasonable costs necessary to implement the act. The bill would make a violation of the act a misdemeanor. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill Text The people of the State of California do enact as follows: SECTION 1. Chapter 1.6 (commencing with Section 13191) is added to Part 2 of Division 12 of the Health and Safety Code, to read: CHAPTER 1.6. State Fire Marshal Fire Sprinkler Fitter Certification Act Article 1. Title and Purpose 13191. This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the State Fire Marshal Fire Sprinkler Fitter Certification Act. 13191.1. The purpose of this act is to improve the performance of fire suppression systems and the appurtenances of those systems by providing a means to ensure any person who installs, alters, repairs, inspects, tests, maintains, or performs safe-off to those systems has completed the required education and training and is properly certified or registered. Article 2. Definitions 13191.2. Unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions apply for purposes of this chapter: (a) “Alteration” means a modification or an addition to an existing fire suppression system. (b) “Applicable provisions of Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 920) of Division 1 of Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations” means those provisions of Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 920) of Division 1 of Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations that correspond to the particular subject referenced in this act, as those provisions read on January 1, 2026, or subsequent amendments to those provisions. (c) “Apprentice” means a person learning by practical experience under the direction of skilled workers, and who is currently registered in a State of California or federally approved fire sprinkler fitter apprenticeship program. (d) “Certified fire sprinkler fitter” means an individual who has been issued a valid certified fire sprinkler fitter card issued by the State Fire Marshal. (e) “Certified fire sprinkler fitter card” means a card issued by the Office of the State Fire Marshal to a certified fire sprinkler fitter upon verification of meeting the requirements in Article 7 (commencing with Section 13191.7). (f) “Commercial certification” means a certification allowing individuals to perform the installation of fire suppression systems in any occupancy. (g) “Correction order” means a written direction or command, delivered by a fire official, identifying a required correction. (h) “Directly supervise” means that the supervising certified fire sprinkler fitter is physically present, onsite, with the assigned registered apprentice fire sprinkler fitter or trainee. (i) “Fire suppression system” means an assembly of piping or conduit and associated components, beginning at the first joint or mechanical connection at the base of the system riser, whether public or private, that conveys water or other approved fire-suppressing agents to dispersal openings or devices to extinguish, control, or contain fire and to provide protection from exposure to fire or other products of combustion, including, but not limited to, wet and dry standpipes, deluge systems, water-mist systems, foam-water systems, standpipe with hose systems, fire pumps, water storage tanks, valves, meters, pressure-regulating devices, air compressors and air lines associated with a fire suppression system, releasing panels and associated supervisory devices, and other ancillary valves and appurtenances attached thereto that are necessary for system performance. (j) “Inspection” includes planned or emergency impairment inspections and obstruction investigations, which are visual examinations of a system or portion thereof to determine whether it is in operable condition and free of physical damage, or actions otherwise leading to the finding of impairments or obstructions requiring maintenance or repair. (k) “Installation” means the installation of new or the retrofitting, altering, or repairing of existing fire suppression systems, and includes those activities included within “work on a fire suppression system,” as defined in subdivision (v). (l) “Licensed C-16 Fire Protection Contractor” means a person who possesses a C-16 Fire Protection Contractor license issued by the Contractors State License Board. (m) “Maintenance” means the condition of repair that provides performance as originally planned. (n) “Multifamily residential certification” means a certification, pursuant to the requirements of this chapter, allowing individuals to perform the installation of fire suppression systems in multifamily residential structures only. (o) “Multifamily residential structure” means a residential occupancy with three or more dwelling units up to, and including, four stories in height. (p) “Registered apprentice fire sprinkler fitter” means an apprentice who has been enrolled in a State of California or federally approved sprinkler fitter apprenticeship program and issued a valid registered apprenticeship fire sprinkler fitter card by the State Fire Marshal. (q) “Registered fire sprinkler fitter card” means a card issued by the State Fire Marshal to sprinkler fitter apprentices or trainees upon approval of meeting the requirements in this chapter. (r) “Repair” means to restore to normal working condition or to fix damage. (s) “Safe-off” means to cause the sprinkler system to be isolated from the water supply due to the loss of the building or any other incident or need. (t) “Service” means to repair or test. (u) “Trainee” means a person who performs work on a fire suppression system at an entry-level position as described in this chapter who is not enrolled in a State of California or federally approved sprinkler fitter apprenticeship program but is issued a valid registered trainee fire sprinkler fitter card by the State Fire Marshal. (v) “Work on a fire suppression system” means the onsite layout, onsite fabrication, work and practice concerning the construction, installation, alteration, modification, repair, performance of safe-off, initial acceptance testing and inspection, planned or emergency impairment inspection, obstruction investigation, test, or performance of maintenance and service, on or of a fire suppression system. Article 3. General Requirements 13191.3. (a) A person shall not engage in the installation, extension, alteration, repair, service, inspection, maintenance, safe-off, or investigation of internal piping condition and obstructions of, or add appurtenances to, fire suppression systems, or otherwise work on fire suppression systems, without first being certified or registered by the State Fire Marshal. (b) The prohibitions in subdivision (a) shall not apply to any of the following: (1) Installation, alteration, or repair of residential fire sprinkler systems in one- and two-family dwellings. (2) The installation, alteration, or repair of underground water supply lines from the connection of the water supply to the first joint, or mechanical connection at the base of the system riser. (3) Pre-engineered fixed extinguishing systems. (4) Fire suppression personnel, fire inspectors, or fire marshals inspecting or testing a fire suppression or standpipe system for the purposes of ensuring proper operation. (5) Monthly, quarterly, and annual inspections performed by persons in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 901) of Division 1 of Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations. (6) Temporary replacement of a sprinkler head following activation by an authority having jurisdiction. (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a person may perform an investigation of internal piping condition and obstructions of water-based fire suppression systems without being a State Fire Marshal certified fire sprinkler fitter if the person meets both of the following criteria: (1) The person holds a valid certificate from any of the following nationally recognized professional certification organizations and at the specified level of training or experience: (A) ASSE International’s ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI Series 15000, Professional Qualifications Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems. (B) National Fire Protection Association Certified Water-Based Fire Protection System Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance (WBITM). (C) National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) Inspection and Testing of Water-Based Systems Level III. (2) (A) The person registers their professional certification with the State Fire Marshal and pays the prescribed fee, consistent with the regulations adopted pursuant to paragraph (3). (B) The registration and fee requirements of subparagraph (A) shall not be required until January 1, 2029. (3) The State Fire Marshal shall adopt registration requirements by regulation no later than January 1, 2029. Registration requirements may include requirements related to registration and fees, and a requirement that those performing inspections and investigation of internal piping condition and obstruction of water-based fire suppression systems be subject to a practical physical examination. (d) Notwithstanding any other law, a registered apprentice or certified fire sprinkler fitter may work for a licensed C-16 Fire Protection Contractor or a public entity. Article 4. Supervision 13191.4. (a) A certified fire sprinkler fitter shall directly supervise the number of apprentices permitted in the applicable apprenticeship agreement and up to two trainees. (b) A licensed C-16 Fire Protection Contractor or public entity, as applicable, shall be responsible for ensuring the people it assigns to work on a fire suppression system are appropriately certified or registered and for ensuring compliance with the supervisor-to-apprentice ratios described in subdivision (a). Article 5. Registered Fire Sprinkler Fitter Trainee Requirements 13191.5. (a) A person not registered in a State of California or federally approved apprenticeship program shall be registered with the State Fire Marshal as a fire sprinkler fitter trainee and work within the scope of this chapter as a trainee for up to one year from their date of registration. (b) To be registered as a trainee, an applicant shall meet all of the following requirements: (1) Be 16 years of age or older. (2) Complete a fire sprinkler fitter trainee registration application, as developed by the State Fire Marshal, and pay the accompanying fees as prescribed in the applicable provisions of Chapter 5.5 (commencing with Section 920) of Division 1 of Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations. (3) Provide proof of employment with a licensed C-16 Fire P [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]