Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB222 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3		EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4		[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5		Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6	6		Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7	7		amendment.
8		-	Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.
9	8		hb0222
10	9
11	10		HOUSE BILL 222
12		-	C2, E4 (5lr1479)
13		-	ENROLLED BILL
14		-	— Environment and Transportation/Education, Energy, and the Environment —
15		-	Introduced by Delegate Stein Delegates Stein, Boyce, Holmes, Otto, Ruth, and
16		-	Terrasa
17		-
18		-	Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
19		-
20		-	_______________________________________________
21		-	Proofreader.
22		-	_______________________________________________
23		-	Proofreader.
24		-
25		-	Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
26		-
27		-	_______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M.
28		-
29		-	______________________________________________
30		-	Speaker.
	11	+	C2, E4 5lr1479
	12	+	HB 503/24 – ENT (PRE–FILED) CF SB 175
	13	+	By: Delegate Stein Delegates Stein, Boyce, Holmes, Otto, Ruth, and Terrasa
	14	+	Requested: October 29, 2024
	15	+	Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
	16	+	Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
	17	+	Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
	18	+	House action: Adopted
	19	+	Read second time: February 27, 2025
31	20
32	21		CHAPTER ______
33	22
34	23		AN ACT concerning 1
35	24
36	25		Public Safety – Fuel Gas Piping Systems and Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing 2
37		-	for Fuel Gas Piping Systems~~– Requirements and Prohibitions – Prohibitions~~ 3
38		-	and Study 4
	26	+	for Fuel Gas Piping Systems 3
	27	+	– Requirements and Prohibitions – Prohibitions and Study 4
39	28
40	29		FOR the purpose of prohibiting the sale, offer for sale, transfer, or distribution of 5
41	30		non–arc–resistant jacketed corrugated stainless steel tubing that does not meet 6
42	31		certain qualifications; requiring certain tubing used; establishing a certain civil 7
43	32		penalty for a person who uses certain tubing in the construction of fuel gas piping 8
44		-	systems in certain buildings to meet certain qualifications; requiring the Maryland 9
45		-	Department of Labor and the Office of the State Fire Marshal to study and make 10
46		-	recommendations related to preventing the fire hazards associated with commonly 11
47		-	used fuel gas piping systems, including gas piping and corrugated stainless steel 12
48		-	tubing, in residential and commercial buildings; and generally relating to fuel gas 13
49		-	piping systems, gas piping, and corrugated stainless steel tubing. 14 2 HOUSE BILL 222
	33	+	systems in certain buildings to meet certain qualifications; requiring the Office of 9
	34	+	the State Fire Marshal to study and make recommendations related to preventing 10
	35	+	the fire hazards associated with commonly used fuel gas piping systems, including 11
	36	+	gas piping and corrugated stainless steel tubing, in residential and commercial 12
	37	+	buildings; and generally relating to fuel gas piping systems, gas piping, and 13
	38	+	corrugated stainless steel tubing. 14
	39	+
	40	+	BY adding to 15
	41	+	Article – Business Regulation 16
	42	+	Section 19–108 17
	43	+	Annotated Code of Maryland 18
	44	+	(2024 Replacement Volume) 19
	45	+
	46	+	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 20
	47	+	Article – Public Safety 21
	48	+	Section 12–206 22 2 HOUSE BILL 222
	49	+
	50	+
	51	+	Annotated Code of Maryland 1
	52	+	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 2
	53	+
	54	+	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 3
	55	+	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 4
	56	+
	57	+	Article – Business Regulation 5
	58	+
	59	+	19–108. 6
	60	+
	61	+	(A) A PERSON MAY NOT SELL , OFFER FOR SALE , TRANSFER, OR DISTRIBUTE 7
	62	+	NON–ARC–RESISTANT JACKETED CORRUGATED STAINLESS STEEL TUBING THAT: 8
	63	+
	64	+	(1) DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LC1027 STANDARD 9
	65	+	DESCRIBED IN THE MOS T RECENT EDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL FUEL AND GAS 10
	66	+	CODE ISSUED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL; OR 11
	67	+
	68	+	(2) HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN TO WITHSTAND AT LEAS T 36 COULOMBS 12
	69	+	OF ELECTRICAL ARCING CHARGE BY AN ELEC TRICAL ARCING TEST . 13
	70	+
	71	+	(B) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS SUBJ ECT TO A CIVIL 14
	72	+	PENALTY NOT EXCEEDIN G $1,000. 15
	73	+
	74	+	Article – Public Safety 16
	75	+
	76	+	12–206. 17
	77	+
	78	+	(a) This section applies to any building that uses fuel gas piping systems not 18
	79	+	subject to Title 49, Part 192 of the Code of Federal Regulations. 19
	80	+
	81	+	(b) [Non–arc–resistant jacketed] ONLY corrugated stainless steel tubing THAT 20
	82	+	MEETS THE REQUIREMEN TS OF THE LC1027 STANDARD DESCRIBED I N THE MOST 21
	83	+	RECENT EDITION OF TH E INTERNATIONAL FUEL AND GAS CODE ISSUED BY THE 22
	84	+	INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL OR HAS BEEN P ROVEN TO WITHSTAND A T LEAST 23
	85	+	36 COULOMBS OF ELECTRIC AL ARCING CHARGE BY AN ELECTRICAL ARCING TEST 24
	86	+	may [not] be used in: 25
	87	+
	88	+	(1) the new construction of a customer–owned natural gas or liquefied 26
	89	+	propane piping system in a building; 27
	90	+
	91	+	(2) a natural gas or liquefied propane piping system in a renovated 28
	92	+	property if the renovation affects more than 50% of the total square footage of the property; 29
	93	+	or 30
	94	+
	95	+	(3) a natural gas or liquefied propane piping system that requires the 31
	96	+	addition of a new gas line to the gas piping system. 32 HOUSE BILL 222 3
50	97
51	98
52	99
53		-	BY adding to 1
54		-	Article – Business Regulation 2
55		-	Section 19–108 3
56		-	Annotated Code of Maryland 4
57		-	(2024 Replacement Volume) 5
	100	+	(C) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS SUBJ ECT TO A CIVIL 1
	101	+	PENALTY NOT EXCEEDIN G $1,000. 2
58	102
59		-	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
60		-	Article – Public Safety 7
61		-	Section 12–206 8
62		-	Annotated Code of Maryland 9
63		-	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 10
	103	+	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 3
64	104
65		-	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
66		-	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
	105	+	(a) The Office of the State Fire Marshal shall conduct a study and make 4
	106	+	recommendations related to preventing the fire hazards associated with commonly used 5
	107	+	fuel gas piping systems, including gas piping and corrugated stainless steel tubing, in 6
	108	+	residential and commercial buildings. 7
67	109
68		-	~~Article – Business Regulation 13~~
	110	+	(b) In conducting the study and making the recommendations, the Office shall: 8
69	111
70		-	19–108. 14
	112	+	(1) study and compare the fire hazard risks of different types of fuel gas 9
	113	+	piping systems, including gas piping and corrugated stainless steel tubing; 10
71	114
72		-	(A) A PERSON MAY NOT SELL , OFFER FOR SALE , TRANSFER, OR DISTRIBUTE 15
73		-	NON–ARC–RESISTANT JACKETED CORRUGATED STAINLESS STEEL TUBING THAT: 16
	115	+	(2) study the likelihood of fuel gas piping systems, including gas piping and 11
	116	+	corrugated stainless steel tubing, causing a fire in a residential or commercial building 12
	117	+	following a direct or indirect lightning strike; 13
74	118
75		-	(1) ~~DOES NOT MEET~~ THE ~~RE QUIREMENTS~~ OF THE ~~LC1027 STANDARD 17~~
76		-	~~DESCRIBED IN THE MOS T RECENT EDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL~~ FUEL ~~AND~~ GAS 18
77		-	~~CODE ISSUED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL~~; ~~OR 19~~
	119	+	(3) analyze the effectiveness of existing standards and requirements in the 14
	120	+	State related to fuel gas piping systems, including gas piping and corrugated stainless steel 15
	121	+	tubing, and identify areas for improvement; 16
78	122
79		-	(2) HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN TO WITHSTAND AT LEAS T 36 COULOMBS 20
80		-	OF ELECTRICAL ARCING CHARGE BY AN ELECTRI CAL ARCING TEST . 21
	123	+	(4) analyze and identify the best practices for state and local legislative, 17
	124	+	regulatory, and building code standards for fuel gas piping systems, including gas piping 18
	125	+	and corrugated stainless steel tubing; 19
81	126
82		-	(B) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS SUBJ ECT TO A CIVIL 22
83		-	PENALTY NOT EXCEEDIN G $1,000. 23
	127	+	(5) identify potential legislative or regulatory changes in the State to 20
	128	+	prevent or minimize the fire hazards associated with fuel gas piping systems, including gas 21
	129	+	piping and corrugated stainless steel tubing; 22
84	130
85		-	Article – Public Safety 24
	131	+	(6) determine what industry standards or requirements are necessary to 23
	132	+	prevent or minimize the fire hazards associated with fuel gas piping systems, including gas 24
	133	+	piping and corrugated stainless steel tubing; 25
86	134
87		-	12–206. 25
	135	+	(7) determine what standards or requirements are necessary, if any, to 26
	136	+	address aggravating factors that may reasonably contribute to the failure or 27
	137	+	malfunctioning of fuel gas piping systems, including gas piping and corrugated stainless 28
	138	+	steel tubing, and create a fire hazard, such as improper installation or grounding; 29
88	139
89		-	(a) This section applies to any building that uses fuel gas piping systems not 26
90		-	subject to Title 49, Part 192 of the Code of Federal Regulations. 27
	140	+	(8) assess the prevalence of non–arc–resistant jacketed corrugated 30
	141	+	stainless steel tubing in residential and commercial buildings and the fire hazards that this 31
	142	+	presents; and 32
91	143
92		-	(b) [Non–arc–resistant jacketed] ONLY corrugated stainless steel tubing THAT 28
93		-	MEETS THE REQUIREMEN TS OF THE LC1027 STANDARD DESCRIBED I N THE MOST 29
94		-	RECENT EDITION OF TH E INTERNATIONAL FUEL AND GAS CODE ISSUED BY THE 30
95		-	INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL OR HAS BEEN P ROVEN TO WITHSTAND A T LEAST 31 HOUSE BILL 222 3
	144	+	(9) assess the feasibility of implementing the standards and requirements 33
	145	+	identified in this study. 34 4 HOUSE BILL 222
96	146
97	147
98		-	36 COULOMBS OF ELECTRIC AL ARCING CHARGE BY AN ELECTRICAL ARCING TEST 1
99		-	may [not] be used in: 2
100	148
101		-	(1) the new construction of a customer–owned natural gas or liquefied 3
102		-	propane piping system in a building; 4
	149	+	(c) In carrying out the study, the Office shall consult with: 1
103	150
104		-	(2) a natural gas or liquefied propane piping system in a renovated 5
105		-	property if the renovation affects more than 50% of the total square footage of the property; 6
106		-	or 7
	151	+	(1) the State Fire Prevention Commission; 2
107	152
108		-	(3) a natural gas or liquefied propane piping system that requires the 8
109		-	addition of a new gas line to the gas piping system. 9
	153	+	(2) the Maryland Department of Labor; 3
110	154
111		-	(C) ~~A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS SUBJ ECT TO A CIVIL 10~~
112		-	~~PENALTY NOT EXCEEDIN G $1,000. 11~~
	155	+	(3) local government entities responsible for residential or commercial gas 4
	156	+	fitting inspections; and 5
113	157
114		-	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 12
	158	+	(4) manufacturers of fuel gas piping systems and corrugated stainless steel 6
	159	+	tubing. 7
115	160
116		-	(a) ~~The Maryland Department of Labor and~~ the Office ~~of the State Fire Marshal 13~~
117		-	~~shall conduct a study and make~~ recommendations ~~related~~ to ~~preventing~~ the ~~fire hazards 14~~
118		-	~~associated with commonly used fuel gas piping systems~~, ~~including gas piping~~ and 15
119		-	~~corrugated stainless steel tubing, in residential~~ and ~~commercial buildings~~. 16
	161	+	(d) On or before September 1, 2026, the Office shall report its findings and 8
	162	+	recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the State 9
	163	+	Government Article, the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment 10
	164	+	and the House Environment and Transportation Committee. 11
120	165
121		-	(b) In conducting the study and making the recommendations, the Department 17
122		-	and the Office shall: 18
123		-
124		-	(1) study and compare the fire hazard risks of different types of fuel gas 19
125		-	piping systems, including gas piping and corrugated stainless steel tubing; 20
126		-
127		-	(2) study the likelihood of fuel gas piping systems, including gas piping and 21
128		-	corrugated stainless steel tubing, causing a fire in a residential or commercial building 22
129		-	following a direct or indirect lightning strike; 23
130		-
131		-	(3) analyze the effectiveness of existing standards and requirements in the 24
132		-	State related to fuel gas piping systems, including gas piping and corrugated stainless steel 25
133		-	tubing, and identify areas for improvement; 26
134		-
135		-	(4) analyze and identify the best practices for state and local legislative, 27
136		-	regulatory, and building code standards for fuel gas piping systems, including gas piping 28
137		-	and corrugated stainless steel tubing; 29
138		-
139		-	(5) identify potential legislative or regulatory changes in the State to 30
140		-	prevent or minimize the fire hazards associated with fuel gas piping systems, including gas 31
141		-	piping and corrugated stainless steel tubing, § 12–206 of the Public Safety Article, and if 32
142		-	enacted by S.B. 175 or H.B. 222 of 2025, § 19–108 of the Business Regulation Article; 33
143		-	4 HOUSE BILL 222
	166	+	SECTION 2. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 12
	167	+	October 1, 2027 June 1, 2025. 13
144	168
145	169
146		-	(6) determine what industry standards or requirements are necessary to 1
147		-	prevent or minimize the fire hazards associated with fuel gas piping systems, including gas 2
148		-	piping and corrugated stainless steel tubing; 3
149	170
150		-	(7) determine what standards or requirements are necessary, if any, to 4
151		-	address aggravating factors that may reasonably contribute to the failure or 5
152		-	malfunctioning of fuel gas piping systems, including gas piping and corrugated stainless 6
153		-	steel tubing, and create a fire hazard, such as improper installation or grounding; 7
154	171
155		-	(8) assess the prevalence of non–arc–resistant jacketed corrugated 8
156		-	stainless steel tubing in residential and commercial buildings and the fire hazards that this 9
157		-	presents; and 10
158		-
159		-	(9) assess the feasibility of implementing the standards and requirements 11
160		-	identified in this study. 12
161		-
162		-	(c) In carrying out the study, the Department and the Office shall consult with: 13
163		-
164		-	(1) the State Fire Prevention Commission; 14
165		-
166		-	(2) the Maryland Department of Labor; 15
167		-
168		-	(3) local government entities responsible for residential or commercial gas 16
169		-	fitting inspections; and 17
170		-
171		-	(4) (3) manufacturers of fuel gas piping systems and corrugated stainless steel 18
172		-	tubing. 19
173		-
174		-	(d) (1) On or before December 1, 2025, the Department and the Office shall 20
175		-	submit an interim report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in 21
176		-	accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the Senate Committee on 22
177		-	Education, Energy, and the Environment and the House Environment and Transportation 23
178		-	Committee. 24
179		-
180		-	(2) On or before September 1, 2026, the Department and the Office shall 25
181		-	report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 26
182		-	of the State Government Article, the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the 27
183		-	Environment and the House Environment and Transportation Committee. 28
184		-
185		-	SECTION 2. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 29
186		-	October 1, 2027 June 1, 2025. 30
	172	+	Approved:
	173	+	________________________________________________________________________________
	174	+	Governor.
	175	+	________________________________________________________________________________
	176	+	Speaker of the House of Delegates.
	177	+	________________________________________________________________________________
	178	+	President of the Senate.