HB 149

Fire Prevention - Assistant Fire Marshals, Residential Rental High-Rise Property Fire Safety Equipment, and Fire Alarm System Technicians

Sponsor: Lorig Charkoudian (District 20)Committee: Economic MattersSubject: Public SafetyStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 422 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Authorizing a county or municipal corporation to designate assistant fire marshals with the approval of the State Fire Marshal or to request that the State Fire Marshal designate certain fire marshals and requiring the State Fire Marshal to adopt certain regulations governing the qualifications, training, standards, and certification of designees; requiring, by October 1, 2026, the installation of certain automatic fire sprinklers in certain high-rise residential buildings; etc.

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Testimony (25)

MGA witness list

FAV 20FavorableFWA 3Favorable with amendmentsINFO 2Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Kouadio, Michele	A Mother's Cry	Position only
FAV	Searcy, Talisha	City of Takoma Park	Written (PDF)
FAV	Alejandro Diaz, Cesar	Diaz Family	Oral
FAV	Diaz, Cesar	Diaz Family	Oral
FAV	Reed, Danlobbyist	Greater Greater Washington	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Donahoo, Bryan	Local 669	Oral
FAV	Manno, Rogerlobbyist	Manno & Associates LLC	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Edwards, Donna	Maryland State & District of Columbia AFL-CIO	Written (PDF)
FAV	Phillips, Robert	Maryland State Firefighter's Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Stewart, Kate	Montgomery County Council	Written (PDF)
FAV	Smedley, Corey	Montgomery County Fire Rescue Service	Oral
FAV	Cooper, Robert	Road Sprinkler Local 669	Written (PDF)
FAV	McNair, Lee	Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry	Position only
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	reynolds, daniel	lu 669	Position only
FAV	Ahmed, Halima	Individual	Oral
FAV	Charkoudian, Lorig	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Charkoudian, Delegate Charkoudianlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Madera, Zuleika	Individual	Oral
FAV	McKay, Mike	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Graf, Lorilobbyist	Maryland Building Industry Association	Written (PDF)
FWA	Morningstar, Sara	Montgomery County Government	Written (PDF)
FWA	Anleu, Brianlobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
INFO	Pipkin, Matthewlobbyist	Maryland Multi-Housing Association	Written (PDF)
INFO	Mowbray, Breanna	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

A Mother's CryFAV 1

City of Takoma ParkFAV 1

Diaz FamilyFAV 2

Greater Greater WashingtonFAV 1

Local 669FAV 1

lu 669FAV 1

Manno & Associates LLCFAV 1

Maryland Building Industry AssociationFWA 1

Maryland Multi-Housing AssociationINFO 1

Maryland State & District of Columbia AFL-CIOFAV 1

Maryland State Firefighter's AssociationFAV 1

Montgomery County CouncilFAV 1

Montgomery County Fire Rescue ServiceFAV 1

Montgomery County GovernmentFWA 1

Road Sprinkler Local 669FAV 1

Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice MinistryFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVReed, DanGreater Greater WashingtonRegistered for: Greater Greater Washington

FAVManno, RogerManno & Associates LLCRegistered for: CAUSE; Constellation; Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35; Mechanical Contractors Association of Metro Washington; Mid-Atlantic Pipe Trades Association; Payactiv…

FWAGraf, LoriMaryland Building Industry AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Building Industry Association

FWAAnleu, BrianRegistered for: AOBA; Apartment & Office Building Association; National Apartment Association

INFOPipkin, MatthewMaryland Multi-Housing AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Multi-Housing Association