The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Banking and Insurance
BILL: SB 1078
INTRODUCER: Senator McClain
SUBJECT: Fire Prevention
DATE: March 7, 2025
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Moody Knudson BI Pre-meeting
2. CA
3. RC
I. Summary:
Senate Bill 1078 clarifies the simplified permitting process for certain fire alarm and fire
sprinkler system projects and enhances several key provisions relating to fire system and fire
alarm permitting, inspection processes, and enforcement of local ordinances.
Simplified Permitting Process for Certain Fire Alarm and Sprinkler System Projects
• Requires local governments to establish a simplified permitting process that complies with
the minimum requirements of the Florida Building Code’s (Building Code) simplified
permitting process for fire alarm or sprinkler system projects of 20 or fewer alarm devices or
sprinklers.
• Specifies deadlines for permit issuances and inspections and removes the requirement for a
local enforcement agency to perform at least one inspection.
• Allows a contractor to commence work that is authorized by the permit immediately after
submission of a completed application.
• Clarifies that a contractor’s requirement to make fire alarm project plans and specifications
available to the inspector at each inspection must be made available for an onsite plans
review of them.
• Requires a contractor to provide copies of any documentation requested from the local
enforcement agency within a specified time and prohibits such agency from requiring
documentation for areas or devices outside the scope of permitted work.
• Requires a local government who fails to comply with certain deadlines to reduce the permit
fee by a specified amount unless an exception applies.
• Amends the definition subsection which clarifies the scope of when the simplified permitting
process applies.
REVISED: BILL: SB 1078 Page 2
Ordinance Compliance
• Provides that amendments adopted by local governments which do not comply with the
Florida Fire Prevention Code (Fire Code) are rescinded immediately.
• Provides that a local fire marshal who enforces a county or municipal ordinance that has been
rescinded is subject to certain disciplinary action.
Inspection Report Improvements
• Amends the information required to be included in a uniform summary inspection report for
fire protection system and hydrant inspections to require only the total quantity of
deficiencies instead of brief descriptions of each.
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2025.
II. Present Situation:
Florida Division of the State Fire Marshal
State law on fire prevention and control is provided in Chapter 633, F.S. Section 633.104, F.S.,
designates the Chief Financial Officer as the State Fire Marshal, operating through the Division
of the State Fire Marshal (Division).
1
Pursuant to this authority, the State Fire Marshal regulates,
trains, and certifies fire service personnel; conducts firesafety inspections of state property;
develops firesafety standards; provides facilities for the analysis of fire debris; and operates the
Florida State Fire College.
2
The Division consists of two bureaus: Bureau of Fire Prevention and Bureau of Fire Standards
and Training.
3
The Inspections Section, under the Bureau of Fire Prevention, annually inspects
more than 14,000 state-owned buildings and facilities. The State Fire Marshal adopts by rule the
Florida Code, which contains or references all firesafety laws and rules regarding public and
private buildings. The Inspections Section is responsible for enforcing the Fire Code which
contains more than 200 fire safety standards.
4
Fire Alarm and Fire Sprinkler System Projects
In 2022, the Legislature enacted s. 553.7932, F.S., to create a simplified permitting process for
fire alarm system projects
5
altering 20 or fewer initiating and notification devices, streamlining
1
The head of the Department of Financial Services (DFS) is the Chief Financial Officer. Section 633.102(5), F.S., provides
the Division of State Fire Marshal is located within the DFS.
2
Division of State Fire Marshal, State Fire Marshal, available at Florida's State Fire Marshal (last visited Mar. 3, 2025).
3
Id.
4
Division of State Fire Marshal, Inspections, available at Inspections | Bureau of Fire Prevention | Florida's State Fire
Marshal (last visited Mar. 3, 2025).
5
Section 553.7932(1)(c), F.S., defines a “fire alarm system project” as a fire alarm system alteration of a total of 20 or fewer
initiating devices and notification devices, or the installation or replacement of a fire communicator connected to an existing
fire alarm control panel in an existing commercial, residential, apartment, cooperative, or condominium building. A “fire
alarm control unit” or fire alarm panel, serves as the brain of the fire alarm system. It is a component of a fire alarm system
that receives signals from initiating devices or other fire alarm control units, and processes these signals to determine part or BILL: SB 1078 Page 3
processing time by eliminating any requirement for a local enforcement agency to review plans
prior to a contractor
6
starting work.
7
In 2023, the section was amended to apply the simplified
permitting process to fire sprinkler system projects
8
that alter 20 or fewer sprinklers. The law
prohibits a local enforcement agency from requiring a contractor to submit plans or
specifications in order to obtain a permit for certain fire alarm or fire sprinkler system projects
but preserves the agency’s authority to require a permit application and permit fee.
9
A local enforcement agency must:
• Issue a permit for a fire alarm or fire sprinkler system project in person or electronically.
10
Current law does not prescribe a deadline for which the local enforcement agency must issue
the permit.
• Require at least one inspection to ensure the work complies with the applicable codes and
standards, and if a fire alarm or fire sprinkler system project fails an inspection, the
contractor must take corrective action to pass inspection.
11
The contractor must keep a copy of the plans and specifications at the fire alarm or fire sprinkler
system project worksite and make them available to the inspector at each inspection.
12
Current
law does not specify that the purpose of making them available is for an onsite plan review.
Fire Prevention and Control
State law requires all municipalities, counties, and special districts with fire safety
responsibilities to enforce the Fire Code as the minimum fire prevention code to operate
uniformly among local governments and in conjunction with the Building Code. Each county,
municipality, and special district with fire safety enforcement responsibilities must employ or
contract with a fire safety inspector (certified by the State Fire Marshal) to conduct all fire safety
inspections required by law.
13
all of the required fire alarm system output. National Fire Protection Association, A Guide to Fire Alarm Basics, available at
https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Publications-and-media/Blogs-Landing-Page/NFPA-Today/Blog-
Posts/2021/03/03/A-Guide-to-Fire-Alarm-Basics (last visited Mar.4, 2025).
6
Section 553.7932(1)(b), F.S., defines “contractor” as a person who: 1. Is qualified to engage in the business of electrical or
alarm system contracting pursuant to a certificate or registration issued by the department under part II of ch. 489, F.S.; or 2.
Is qualified to engage in the business of fire protection system contracting pursuant to a license or certificate issued by the
State Fire Marshal.
7
Ch. 2022-124, Laws of Fla.
8
Section 553.7932(1)(d), F.S., defines a "fire sprinkler system project" as a fire protection system alteration of a total of 20
or fewer fire sprinklers in which the sprinklers are of the same K-factor and located in spaces where there is no change of
hazard classification or increased system coverage area, or the installation or replacement of an equivalent fire sprinkler
system component in an existing commercial, residential, apartment, cooperative, or condominium building.
9
Section 553.7932(2), F.S.
10
Section 553.7932(3), F.S.
11
Section 553.7932(4), F.S.
12
Section 553.7932(5), F.S.
13
Section 633.202, F.S. BILL: SB 1078 Page 4
Fire Protection Systems
A “fire protection system” is a system individually designed to protect the interior or exterior of
a specific building or buildings, structure, or other special hazard from fire. A fire protection
system includes, but is not limited to:
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• Water sprinkler systems;
• Water spray systems;
• Foam-water sprinkler systems;
• Foam-water spray systems;
• Carbon dioxide systems;
• Foam extinguishing systems;
• Dry chemical systems; and
• Halon and other chemical systems used for fire protection use.
Fire protection systems also include any tanks and pumps connected to fire sprinkler systems,
overhead and underground fire mains, fire hydrants and hydrant mains, standpipes and hoses
connected to sprinkler systems, sprinkler tank heaters, air lines, and thermal systems used in
connection with fire sprinkler systems.
15
Fire protection systems must be installed in accordance with the Fire Code and the Building
Code. Current law requires local governments to enforce the Fire Code and the Building Code
including the permitting, inspecting, and approving the installation of a fire protection system.
16
Owners of fire protection systems must contract with a certified fire protection system contractor
to regularly inspect such systems.
17
Fire Protection System Contractors
To engage in the business of laying out, fabricating, installing, inspecting, altering, repairing, or
servicing a fire protection system in Florida, other than a pre-engineered system, a person must
be certified as a fire protection system contractor.
18
Fire protection system contractors are regulated by ch. 633, F.S., which outlines the law
pertaining to fire protection system contractors in Florida. The State Fire Marshal is responsible
for licensing and regulating fire system protection contractors in Florida.
19
There are five levels of certification for fire protection system contractors. A contractor’s ability
to practice is limited to the category or categories for which the contractor has obtained
certification.
20
14
Section 633.102(11), F.S.
15
Id.
16
See generally chs. 553 and 633, F.S.; Florida Fire Prevention Code 8
th
Edition (NFPA Standard 1), available at florida-fire-
prevention-code-8th-edition-nfpa-101-fl-sp.pdf (last visited Mar. 4, 2025).
17
Section 633.312, F.S.
18
Section 633.336(1), F.S.
19
Sections 633.318 and 633.338, F.S.
20
Section 633.102(3), F.S. BILL: SB 1078 Page 5
Penalties
Section 633.106, F.S., authorizes the State Fire Marshal to impose the following disciplinary
actions against any individual who does not meet the qualifications established by, or who
violates any provision of ch. 633, F.S., or any rule that it authorizes:
• Deny, suspend, or revoke the license, certificate, or permit.
• Except on a second offense or when the suspension, revocation, or refusal to issue is
mandatory, and in lieu of such actions, impose one of the following:
o An administrative fine not to exceed $1,000 for each violation up to $10,000.
o Probation for a period not to exceed 2 years.
The State Fire Marshal has discretion on the number of days for payment, but such fees must be
paid within a reasonable period not to exceed 30 days. Failure to pay the fine within the required
period results in the license, permit or certificate being suspended until the payment of the
administrative fine is made. The State Fire Marshal has discretion on his or her reasonable terms
and conditions that may be imposed during the probation period.
21
Uniform Summary Inspection Report
The bill requires that the State Fire Marshal adopt rules to implement a uniform submission
procedure for the collection of inspection reports. The local authority having jurisdiction may
accept the report by mail, hand delivery, electronically or through a vendor. The State Fire
Marshal must adopt rules to establish submission procedures for each of these methods. These
rules must allow a contractor to attach additional documents, including their detailed inspection
report, to the submission. The standardized procedures to be set by the State Fire Marshal must
include a standardized reporting format for a uniform summary report. The uniform summary
report must include:
• The address of the building or hydrant;
• The company and person conducting the inspection and their license number;
• The date of the inspection;
• The fire protection system or hydrant inspection status; and
• A brief summary of each deficiency, critical deficiency, noncritical deficiency or impairment
found.
The contractor’s inspection report is not required to follow a uniform format and contractors may
not be required to enter details of the inspection report. The submission procedures created by
the State Fire Marshal may not require a contractor to submit information contained within the
detailed inspection report unless the information is required to be included in the uniform
summary report.
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III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
Senate Bill 1078 aims to strengthen fire safety standards statewide by:
• Streamlining permitting and inspection processes to be more efficient.
• Enhancing local government accountability and compliance with state regulations.
21
Section 633.106, F.S.
22
Section 633.312(3)(b), F.S. BILL: SB 1078 Page 6
• Reducing administrative burdens and costs for contractors while maintaining safety
standards.
Simplified Permitting Process for Certain Fire Alarm and Sprinkler System Projects
Section 1 of the bill requires local governments to establish by October 1, 2025, a simplified
permitting process that complies with the minimum requirements of the Building Code’s
simplified permitting process for fire alarm or sprinkler system projects of 20 or fewer alarm
devices or sprinklers.
The bill amends the simplified permitting process in the Building Code to specify that a local
enforcement agency must issue a permit within two business days after submission of the
completed application. The bill allows contractors to begin work authorized by the permit
immediately after the submission of a completed application before the local enforcement agency
issues the permit. The bill modifies the requirement for a local enforcement agency to perform at
least one inspection of a fire alarm or fire sprinkler system project to ensure compliance with
applicable codes and standards and provides that if a local enforcement agency requires an
inspection, then it must be completed within 24 hours after such inspection is requested. These
deadlines for issuing permits and conducting inspections are intended to ensure timely
compliance and efficient project completion.
If a local government fails to comply with deadlines in the simplified permit process, then the
local government must reduce the permit fee by 10 percent for each business day of such failure
unless:
• The parties agree in writing to a reasonable extension of time,
• The delay is caused by the applicant, or
• The delay is attributable to a force majeure or other extraordinary circumstances.
Each 10 percent reduction is based on the original amount of the permit fee.
The bill clarifies that the purpose of a contractor’s requirement to make fire alarm project plans
and specifications available to the inspector at each inspection is for an onsite plans review of
them. The bill requires a contractor to provide copies of any documentation requested from the
local enforcement agency within 4 business days after the inspection and prohibits such agency
from requiring documentation for areas or devices outside the scope of permitted work.
The bill defines “alteration” as “to add, install, relocate, replace, or remove” which clarifies the
definitions of fire alarm system project and fire sprinkler system project and which, in turn,
clarifies when the simplified permitting process applies to altering such systems. The bill also
amends the definition to “fire alarm system project” to add an additional service to the definition
of such project, specifically “…the replacement of an existing fire alarm panel using the same
make and model as the existing panel.”
Ordinance Compliance
Section 2 of the bill provides that amendments adopted by local governments which do not
comply with the Fire Code must be considered rescinded immediately, and that a local fire BILL: SB 1078 Page 7
marshal who enforces a county or municipal ordinance that has been rescinded as a matter of law
is subject to disciplinary action under s. 633.106, F.S.
Inspection Report Improvements
Section 3 of the bill modifies the information required to be included in a uniform summary
inspection report for fire protection system and hydrant inspections to require only the total
quantity of deficiencies identified instead of specified brief descriptions required under current
law. This amendment intends to reduce redundant documentation and associated costs for
contractors.
Section 4 of the bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2025
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
Article VII, section 18 (a) of the Florida Constitution provides in part that a county or
municipality may not be bound by a general law requiring a county or municipality to
spend funds or take an action that requires the expenditure of funds unless certain
specified exemptions or exceptions are met. Under the bill local governments are
required to issue permits and complete inspections within a specified time which may
require them to hire additional personnel to meet such deadlines. Further, local
governments are required to reduce permit fees by 10 percent for each business day after
such government fails to comply with such deadlines. If the bill does qualify as a
mandate, in order to be binding upon cities and counties, the bill must contain a finding
of important state interest and be approved by a two-thirds vote of the membership of
each house.
However, the mandate requirements do not apply to laws having an insignificant fiscal
impact, which for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 is forecast at approximately $2.4 million.
23,24,25
The Revenue Estimating Conference has not reviewed this bill. If costs imposed by the
bill exceed $2.4 million, the mandates provisions may apply. If the bill does qualify as a
mandate, in order to be binding upon cities and counties, the bill must contain a finding
of important state interest and be approved by a two-thirds vote of the membership of
each house.
23
FLA. CONST. art. VII, s. 18(d).
24
An insignificant fiscal impact is the amount not greater than the average statewide population for the applicable fiscal year
times $0.10. See Florida Senate Committee on Community Affairs, Interim Report 2012-115: Insignificant Impact, (Sept.
2011), available at http://www.flsenate.gov/PublishedContent/Session/2012/InterimReports/2012-115ca.pdf (last visited
Mar. 7, 2025).
25
Based on the Florida Demographic Estimating Conference’s February 4, 2025 population forecast for 2025 of 23,332,606.
The conference packet is available at: https://edr.state.fl.us/content/conferences/population/ConferenceResults_Tables.pdf
(last visited Mar. 7, 2025). BILL: SB 1078 Page 8
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
This bill requires local governments to reduce permit fees by 10 percent for each business
day after such government fails to comply with authorizing a permit or conducting an
inspection of a fire alarm or sprinkler system within a specified time.
B. Private Sector Impact:
The bill may reduce the cost of permit fees paid by the private sector to local
governments if a local government fails to meet time requirements. On the other hand,
the local jurisdictions may raise permit fees so that they can hire employees to meet the
time requirements in the bill.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The DFS reports that SB 1078 will have no fiscal impact on state government
26
This bill
may reduce the amount of permit fees that could be collected by local governments in
certain circumstances. This bill may impact local governments because they may have to
hire more employees to meet the prescribed timeframes.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
The DFS reports that Rule 69A-46, of the Florida Administrative Code, will need to be modified
to conform to the changes made in SB 1078.
27
26
The DFS, Department of Financial Services 2025 Agency Legislative Bill Analysis SB 1078, p. 2, Mar. 5, 2025 (on file
with the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance) (hereinafter cited as “2025 DFS Agency Analysis for SB 1078”).
27
Id. BILL: SB 1078 Page 9
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends the following sections of the Florida Statutes: 553.7932, 633.202,
and 633.312.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.