All Roll Calls
Yes: 107 • No: 4
New JerseyA3894220th Legislature (2024-2025)HouseWALLET
Amends certain fire safety statutes to update licensure and equipment requirements and liability, fee, and penalty provisions; expands membership of Fire Protection Equipment Advisory Committee.*
Sponsored By: Anthony M. Bucco (Republican), Carol A. Murphy (Democratic), Annette Quijano (Democratic), Troy Singleton (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 4 mixed.
Buyers can inherit fire-safety debts
Beginning February 3, 2025, property buyers can inherit unpaid fire-safety fees and penalties when buying without a clearance certificate. The certificate must show no recorded uncorrected violations and no unpaid fees or penalties. Buyers without it are treated as having notice of recorded violations; the department must request payment within five years. Operators taking over an existing tenant business also inherit its unpaid fees and penalties, generally with the same five-year request limit. That limit does not apply to a prior principal or agent, or someone related to one by blood, adoption, or marriage. Operators starting a business not previously at the property do not inherit these debts.
Fire-code violators face substantial penalties
Beginning February 3, 2025, fire-code violations carry penalties of up to $5,000 each. Continuing violations generally count separately each day after the correction deadline. Owners or operators who fail to correct a violation after notice face up to $50,000 more. For municipal firefighting costs tied to an uncorrected violation, or other actual enforcement expenses, another penalty can apply. That penalty is $150,000 or the actual cost, whichever is greater. Specified additional owner-or-operator penalties go into a municipal trust fund for firefighter training and new equipment. Nonpayment of penalties can result in up to six months in jail.
Homeowners must install alarms and warnings
Beginning February 3, 2025, homes used or intended for up to two households need certified smoke alarms on every level. Alarms must also be outside each separate sleeping area, on or near the ceiling, and installed under state rules. Homes with backup power need warning labels within 18 inches of both the main electrical panel and electrical meter. Owners pay for installation and labels, which provide fire-safety protections for residents.
Owners need certificates before occupancy changes
Beginning February 3, 2025, covered homes generally need a fire-safety certificate before sale, lease, or occupancy after an occupancy change. Municipalities must confirm required alarms and backup-power labels before issuing required occupancy or inspection certificates, protecting incoming residents. Homes needing rehabilitation and a new construction-code occupancy certificate are exempt from certification before rehabilitation, but cannot be occupied without that construction-code certificate. Foreclosure and sheriff’s-sale buyers must obtain any missing required certificates before occupancy. Applicants pay inspection and certificate fees set locally, or by the state commissioner when the state enforces the rules. Owners who allow occupancy without required alarms, inspection, or certification face a fine of up to $500.
Small owner-occupied homes escape local enforcement
Beginning February 3, 2025, local agencies enforce the Uniform Fire Safety Act with a limited exception. Owner-occupied buildings used only as homes and containing fewer than three dwelling units fall outside this local enforcement coverage. This reduces owners’ enforcement burden but also limits local fire-code oversight. The exception does not itself remove the separate residential alarm and occupancy-certificate requirements.
Fire inspectors must meet licensing rules
Beginning February 3, 2025, New Jersey licenses fire inspectors and fire officials under state standards. Applicants must pay a fee, complete required training, meet prerequisites, and pass written and practical state exams. Previously approved certifications count as licenses. Existing multiple-dwelling inspectors and officials enforcing non-life-hazard dwelling rules have two years from that date to obtain fire inspector licenses. Local agencies with at least one paid licensed fire inspector can inspect high-rises and life-hazard uses after a governing-body resolution.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Anthony M. Bucco
Republican • Senate
Carol A. Murphy
Democratic • House
Annette Quijano
Democratic • House
Troy Singleton
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Vin Gopal
Democratic • Senate
Linda R. Greenstein
Democratic • Senate
William B. Sampson IV
Democratic • House
Shanique Speight
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 12/19/2024
3RDG FINAL PASSAGE
Yes: 69 • No: 4
Senate vote • 12/19/2024
3RDG FINAL PASSAGE
Yes: 38 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Approved by Governor — P.L.2025, c.19.
2/3/2025GovernorPassed Senate, PBH — (38-0)
12/19/2024SenateSubstituted for S2580 (1R)
12/19/2024SenateReceived in Senate, SWR, 2nd Reading in Senate
12/19/2024SenatePassed Assembly — (69-4-0)
12/19/2024HouseREP/ACA, 2nd Reading in Assembly
11/14/2024HouseReported, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Committee
6/6/2024HouseReported, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee
5/13/2024HouseIntroduced, 1st Reading in Assembly, Referred to Assembly Housing Committee
2/27/2024House
Bill Text
Version PL2025
4/3/2025
Version AL2025
2/26/2025
Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness (11/14/24 1R)
12/31/2024
12/19/24; 1R
12/19/2024
As Introduced
11/15/2024
Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness Substitute (11/14/24)
11/15/2024
Assembly State and Local Government Substitute (6/6/24)
6/7/2024
Assembly Housing Substitute (5/13/24)
5/14/2024
Related Bills
A4254, Establishes limits on transcript release restrictions at institutions of higher education and certain proprietary institutions.
A4302, Amends current child labor laws to protect minor working as vlogger in certain circumstances.*
A3360, Authorizes establishment of municipal homelessness trust funds and adoption of homeless housing plans by municipalities.
A2801, Renames, extends eligibility, and makes various other changes to Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program.
A3451, Revises law concerning family leave to extend protection by reducing employee threshold from 30 employees to 15 employees in definition of employer.*
A3765, Requires contract between certain governmental units and online parking payment service providers stipulate service provider not charge user during certain times.