Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB175 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		sb0175
10	9
11	10		SENATE BILL 175
12		-	C2, E4 (5lr0730)
13		-	ENROLLED BILL
14		-	— Education, Energy, and the Environment/Environment and Transportation —
15		-	Introduced by Senators Lewis Young and Brooks
16		-
17		-	Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
18		-
19		-	_______________________________________________
20		-	Proofreader.
21		-	_______________________________________________
22		-	Proofreader.
23		-
24		-	Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
25		-
26		-	_______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M.
27		-
28		-	______________________________________________
29		-	President.
	11	+	C2, E4 5lr0730
	12	+	SB 586/24 – EEE (PRE–FILED) CF HB 222
	13	+	By: Senators Lewis Young and Brooks
	14	+	Requested: August 30, 2024
	15	+	Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
	16	+	Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
	17	+	Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
	18	+	Senate action: Adopted
	19	+	Read second time: February 27, 2025
30	20
31	21		CHAPTER ______
32	22
33	23		AN ACT concerning 1
34	24
35	25		Public Safety – Fuel Gas Piping Systems and Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing 2
36	26		for Fuel Gas Piping Systems – Requirements and Prohibitions – Prohibitions 3
37	27		and Study 4
38	28
39	29		FOR the purpose of prohibiting the sale, offer for sale, transfer, or distribution of 5
40		-	nonconductive non–arc–resistant jacketed corrugated stainless steel tubing that does 6
41		-	not meet certain qualifications; requiring certain tubing used; establishing a certain 7
42		-	civil penalty for a person who uses certain tubing in the construction of fuel gas 8
43		-	piping systems in certain buildings to meet certain qualifications; requiring the 9
44		-	Maryland Department of Labor, in collaboration with the State Fire Prevention 10
45		-	Commission, and the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and local inspectors, to 11
46		-	conduct a study and make recommendations regarding corrugated stainless steel 12
47		-	tubing and other fuel gas piping systems related to preventing the fire hazards 13
48		-	associated with commonly used fuel gas piping systems, including gas piping and 14
49		-	corrugated stainless steel tubing, in residential and commercial buildings; and 15 2 SENATE BILL 175
	30	+	nonconductive jacketed corrugated stainless steel tubing that does not meet certain 6
	31	+	qualifications; requiring certain tubing used; establishing a certain civil penalty for 7
	32	+	a person who uses certain tubing in the construction of fuel gas piping systems in 8
	33	+	certain buildings to meet certain qualifications; requiring the Maryland Department 9
	34	+	of Labor, in collaboration with the State Fire Prevention Commission, the State Fire 10
	35	+	Marshal, and local inspectors, to conduct a study and make recommendations 11
	36	+	regarding corrugated stainless steel tubing and other fuel gas piping systems; and 12
	37	+	generally relating to fuel gas piping systems, gas piping, and corrugated stainless 13
	38	+	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 SENATE BILL 175
50	49
51	50
52		-	~~generally relating to fuel gas piping systems, gas piping, and corrugated stainless~~ 1
53		-	~~steel tubing.~~ 2
	51	+	Annotated Code of Maryland 1
	52	+	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 2
54	53
55		-	BY adding to 3
56		-	Article – Business Regulation 4
57		-	Section 19–108 5
58		-	Annotated Code of Maryland 6
59		-	(2024 Replacement Volume) 7
	54	+	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 3
	55	+	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 4
60	56
61		-	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
62		-	Article – Public Safety 9
63		-	Section 12–206 10
64		-	Annotated Code of Maryland 11
65		-	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 12
	57	+	Article – Business Regulation 5
66	58
67		-	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
68		-	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
	59	+	19–108. 6
69	60
70		-	Article – Business Regulation 15
	61	+	(A) A PERSON MAY NOT SELL , OFFER FOR SALE , TRANSFER, OR DISTRIBUTE 7
	62	+	NONCONDUCTIVE JACKET ED CORRUGATED STAINLESS STEEL TUBING THAT: 8
71	63
72		-	19–108. 16
	64	+	(1) DOES NOT MEET THE RE QUIREMENTS OF THE LC1027 STANDARD 9
	65	+	DESCRIBED IN THE MOST RECENT EDIT ION OF THE INTERNATIONAL FUEL AND GAS 10
	66	+	CODE ISSUED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL; OR 11
73	67
74		-	(A) A PERSON MAY NOT SELL, OFFER FOR SALE , TRANSFER, OR DISTRIBUTE 17
75		-	NONCONDUCTIVE NON–ARC–RESISTANT JACKETED CORRUGATED STAINLESS STEEL 18
76		-	TUBING THAT: 19
	68	+	(2) HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN TO WITHSTAND AT LEAS T 36 COULOMBS 12
	69	+	OF ELECTRICAL ARCING CHARGE BY AN ELECTRI CAL ARCING TEST . 13
77	70
78		-	(1) DOES NOT MEET THE RE QUIREMENTS OF THE LC1027 STANDARD 20
79		-	DESCRIBED IN THE MOS T RECENT EDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL FUEL AND GAS 21
80		-	CODE ISSUED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL; OR 22
	71	+	(B) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS SUBJE CT TO A CIVIL 14
	72	+	PENALTY NOT EXCEEDIN G $1,000. 15
81	73
82		-	(2) HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN TO WITHSTAND AT LEAS T 36 COULOMBS 23
83		-	OF ELECTRICAL ARCING CHARGE BY AN ELECTRI CAL ARCING TEST . 24
	74	+	Article – Public Safety 16
84	75
85		-	(B) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS SUBJ ECT TO A CIVIL 25
86		-	PENALTY NOT EXCEEDIN G $1,000. 26
	76	+	12–206. 17
87	77
88		-	Article – Public Safety 27
	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
89	80
90		-	12–206. 28
	81	+	(b) [Non–arc–resistant jacketed] ONLY NONCONDUCTIVE JACKETE D 20
	82	+	corrugated stainless steel tubing THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMEN TS OF THE LC1027 21
	83	+	STANDARD DESCRIBED I N THE MOST RECENT EDITION OF TH E INTERNATIONAL 22
	84	+	FUEL AND GAS CODE ISSUED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL OR HAS BEEN 23
	85	+	PROVEN TO WITHSTAND AT LEAST 36 COULOMBS OF ELECTRIC AL ARCING CHARGE 24
	86	+	BY AN ELECTRICAL ARC ING TEST may [not] be used in: 25
91	87
92		-	(a) ~~This section applies to any building that uses fuel~~ gas ~~piping systems not 29~~
93		-	~~subject to Title 49,~~ ~~Part 192 of the Code of Federal Regulations. 30~~
	88	+	(1) the new construction of a customer–owned natural gas or liquefied 26
	89	+	propane piping system in a building; 27
94	90
95		-	(b) ~~[Non–arc–resistant jacketed]~~ ~~ONLY NONCONDUCTIVE JACKETE D 31~~
96		-	~~corrugated stainless steel tubing THAT MEETS~~ THE ~~REQUIREMEN TS~~ OF THE ~~LC1027 32~~
97		-	~~STANDARD DESCRIBED I N THE MOST RECENT EDITION OF TH E INTERNATIONAL 33 SENATE BILL 175 3~~
	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
98	94
99		-
100		-	FUEL AND GAS CODE ISSUED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL OR HAS BEEN 1
101		-	PROVEN TO WITHSTAND AT LEAST 36 COULOMBS OF ELECTRICAL ARCING CHARGE 2
102		-	BY AN ELECTRICAL ARC ING TEST may [not] be used in: 3
103		-
104		-	(1) the new construction of a customer–owned natural gas or liquefied 4
105		-	propane piping system in a building; 5
106		-
107		-	(2) a natural gas or liquefied propane piping system in a renovated 6
108		-	property if the renovation affects more than 50% of the total square footage of the property; 7
109		-	or 8
110		-
111		-	(3) a natural gas or liquefied propane piping system that requires the 9
112		-	addition of a new gas line to the gas piping system. 10
113		-
114		-	(C) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS SUBJ ECT TO A CIVIL 11
115		-	PENALTY NOT EXCEEDIN G $1,000. 12
116		-
117		-	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 13
118		-
119		-	(a) The Maryland Department of Labor and the Office of the State Fire Marshal, 14
120		-	in collaboration with the State Fire Prevention Commission, the State Fire Marshal, and 15
121		-	local inspectors, shall conduct a study the and make recommendations related to prevention 16
122		-	of preventing the fire hazards associated with commonly used corrugated stainless steel 17
123		-	tubing and other fuel gas piping systems, including gas piping and corrugated stainless 18
124		-	steel tubing, in residential and commercial buildings. 19
125		-
126		-	(b) The Maryland Department of Labor In conducting the study and making the 20
127		-	recommendations, the Department and the Office shall: 21
128		-
129		-	(1) study and compare the fire hazards created by hazard risks of different 22
130		-	types of corrugated stainless steel tubing in comparison to other fuel fuel gas piping 23
131		-	systems, including gas piping systems used in residential buildings and corrugated 24
132		-	stainless steel tubing; 25
133		-
134		-	(2) study the likelihood of corrugated stainless steel tubing or other fuel 26
135		-	fuel gas piping systems, including gas piping systems and corrugated stainless steel tubing, 27
136		-	causing a fire in a residential or commercial building following a direct or indirect lightning 28
137		-	strike; 29
138		-
139		-	(3) make recommendations regarding the analyze the effectiveness of 30
140		-	existing standards and requirements necessary for corrugated stainless steel tubing and 31
141		-	other in the State related to fuel gas piping systems to prevent or minimize the risk of fire 32
142		-	in residential or commercial buildings, including regulatory or legislative measures, 33
143		-	including gas piping and corrugated stainless steel tubing, and identify areas for 34
144		-	improvement; 35
145		-	4 SENATE BILL 175
146		-
147		-
148		-	(4) make recommendations regarding any standards and requirements 1
149		-	necessary to address aggravating factors that may reasonably contribute to the failure or 2
150		-	malfunctioning of corrugated stainless steel tubing or other analyze and identify the best 3
151		-	practices for state and local legislative, regulatory, and building code standards for fuel gas 4
152		-	piping systems, such as improper installation, maintenance, or grounding including gas 5
153		-	piping and corrugated stainless steel tubing; 6
154		-
155		-	(5) assess the availability of testing facilities to determine whether 7
156		-	corrugated stainless steel tubing and other fuel gas piping systems are able to withstand 8
157		-	lightning strikes or electrical arcing; identify potential legislative or regulatory changes in 9
158		-	the State to prevent or minimize the fire hazards associated with fuel gas piping systems, 10
159		-	including gas piping and corrugated stainless steel tubing, § 12–206 of the Public Safety 11
160		-	Article, and if enacted by S.B. 175 or H.B. 222 of 2025, § 19–108 of the Business Regulation 12
161		-	Article; 13
162		-
163		-	(6) determine what industry standards or requirements are necessary to 14
164		-	prevent or minimize the fire hazards associated with fuel gas piping systems, including gas 15
165		-	piping and corrugated stainless steel tubing; 16
166		-
167		-	(7) determine what standards or requirements are necessary, if any, to 17
168		-	address aggravating factors that may reasonably contribute to the failure or malfunctioning 18
169		-	of fuel gas piping systems, including gas piping and corrugated stainless steel tubing, and 19
170		-	create a fire hazard, such as improper installation or grounding; 20
171		-
172		-	(8) assess the prevalence of non–arc–resistant jacketed corrugated stainless 21
173		-	steel tubing in residential and commercial buildings and the fire hazards that this presents; 22
174		-	and 23
175		-
176		-	(6) (9) assess the feasibility of implementing the standards and requirements 24
177		-	recommended under items (3) and (4) of this subsection; 25
178		-
179		-	(7) analyze the prevalence of nonconductive jacketed corrugated stainless 26
180		-	steel tubing in residential and commercial buildings and the fire hazard presented; and 27
181		-
182		-	(8) consult with the following individuals or entities regarding items (1) 28
183		-	through (7) of this subsection: 29
184		-
185		-	(i) identified in this study. 30
186		-
187		-	(c) In carrying out the study, the Department and the Office shall consult with: 31
188		-
189		-	(1) the State Fire Prevention Commission; 32
190		-
191		-	(2) local government entities that conduct responsible for residential or 33
192		-	commercial gas fitting inspections or permitting; 34
193		-
194		-	(ii) the State Fire Marshal; and 35 SENATE BILL 175 5
	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 SENATE BILL 175 3
195	97
196	98
197	99
198		-	(iii) any other necessary subject matter experts; and 1
	100	+	(C) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS SUBJ ECT TO A CIVIL 1
	101	+	PENALTY NOT EXCEEDIN G $1,000. 2
199	102
200		-	(3) manufacturers of fuel gas piping systems and corrugated stainless steel 2
201		-	tubing. 3
	103	+	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 3
202	104
203		-	(c) (d) (1) On or before December 1, 2025, the Maryland Department of Labor 4
204		-	Department and the Office shall submit an interim report of its findings and 5
205		-	recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the State 6
206		-	Government Article, the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment 7
207		-	and the House Environment and Transportation Committee. 8
	105	+	(a) The Maryland Department of Labor, in collaboration with the State Fire 4
	106	+	Prevention Commission, the State Fire Marshal, and local inspectors, shall study the 5
	107	+	prevention of fire hazards associated with commonly used corrugated stainless steel tubing 6
	108	+	and other fuel gas piping systems in residential and commercial buildings. 7
208	109
209		-	(2) On or before September 30 1, 2026, the Maryland Department of Labor 9
210		-	Department and the Office shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations 10
211		-	to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the 11
212		-	Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment and the House 12
213		-	Environment and Transportation Committee. 13
	110	+	(b) The Maryland Department of Labor shall: 8
214	111
215		-	~~SECTION 2.~~ ~~3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENA CTED,~~ ~~That this Act shall take effect 14~~
216		-	~~October 1,~~ ~~2027 June 1,~~ ~~2025. 15~~
	112	+	(1) study the fire hazards created by different types of corrugated stainless 9
	113	+	steel tubing in comparison to other fuel gas piping systems used in residential buildings; 10
217	114
	115	+	(2) study the likelihood of corrugated stainless steel tubing or other fuel 11
	116	+	gas piping systems causing a fire in a residential or commercial building following a direct 12
	117	+	or indirect lightning strike; 13
	118	+
	119	+	(3) make recommendations regarding the standards and requirements 14
	120	+	necessary for corrugated stainless steel tubing and other fuel gas piping systems to prevent 15
	121	+	or minimize the risk of fire in residential or commercial buildings, including regulatory or 16
	122	+	legislative measures; 17
	123	+
	124	+	(4) make recommendations regarding any standards and requirements 18
	125	+	necessary to address aggravating factors that may reasonably contribute to the failure or 19
	126	+	malfunctioning of corrugated stainless steel tubing or other fuel gas piping systems, such 20
	127	+	as improper installation, maintenance, or grounding; 21
	128	+
	129	+	(5) assess the availability of testing facilities to determine whether 22
	130	+	corrugated stainless steel tubing and other fuel gas piping systems are able to withstand 23
	131	+	lightning strikes or electrical arcing; 24
	132	+
	133	+	(6) assess the feasibility of implementing the standards and requirements 25
	134	+	recommended under items (3) and (4) of this subsection; 26
	135	+
	136	+	(7) analyze the prevalence of nonconductive jacketed corrugated stainless 27
	137	+	steel tubing in residential and commercial buildings and the fire hazard presented; and 28
	138	+
	139	+	(8) consult with the following individuals or entities regarding items (1) 29
	140	+	through (7) of this subsection: 30
	141	+
	142	+	(i) local government entities that conduct gas inspections or 31
	143	+	permitting; 32
	144	+
	145	+	(ii) the State Fire Marshal; and 33 4 SENATE BILL 175
	146	+
	147	+
	148	+
	149	+	(iii) any other necessary subject matter experts. 1
	150	+
	151	+	(c) (1) On or before December 1, 2025, the Maryland Department of Labor 2
	152	+	shall submit an interim report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, 3
	153	+	in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the Senate Committee on 4
	154	+	Education, Energy, and the Environment and the House Environment and Transportation 5
	155	+	Committee. 6
	156	+
	157	+	(2) On or before September 30, 2026, the Maryland Department of Labor 7
	158	+	shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in 8
	159	+	accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the Senate Committee on 9
	160	+	Education, Energy, and the Environment and the House Environment and Transportation 10
	161	+	Committee. 11
	162	+
	163	+	SECTION 2. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 12
	164	+	October 1, 2027 June 1, 2025. 13
218	165
219	166
220	167
221	168
222	169
223	170
224	171		Approved:
225	172		________________________________________________________________________________
226	173		Governor.
227	174		________________________________________________________________________________
228	175		President of the Senate.
229	176		________________________________________________________________________________
230	177		Speaker of the House of Delegates.