HB 1086: Preston Fant and Brant Chesney Firefighter Safety Act; enact

Light-frame truss-type construction and engineered I-joists (EIJ) are lightweight building materials that can fail faster than traditional lumber during a fire, creating extra danger for firefighters who don't know what they're dealing with. This bill, named for two firefighters, adds a new section to Georgia's fire safety code (O.C.G.A. Chapter 2 of Title 25) requiring owners of commercial buildings, industrial buildings, and residential buildings with three or more units to post a warning sign if the structure uses these materials. The State Fire Marshal's office (the Commissioner) would write rules covering the sign's size, color, required posting location, and deadlines for compliance. The Commissioner, the state fire marshal, and local fire marshals could all enforce the requirement, and owners who don't post a sign would face civil penalties under existing law (O.C.G.A. § 25-2-37). The bill also gives the act a short title and repeals conflicting laws.

• Adds a new Georgia Code section requiring warning signs on buildings built with light-frame truss construction or engineered I-joists (EIJ).
• Applies the sign requirement to commercial buildings, industrial buildings, and residential buildings of three or more units.
• Directs the state Fire Commissioner to write rules on the sign's appearance, posting location, and compliance deadlines.
• Authorizes the Commissioner, the state fire marshal, and local fire marshals to enforce the requirement.
• Makes owners who fail to post the required sign subject to existing civil penalties under O.C.G.A. § 25-2-37.
• Names the law the 'Preston Fant and Brant Chesney Firefighter Safety Act.'

Owners of commercial and industrial buildings and multiunit residential buildings with three or more units that use light-frame truss or I-joist construction, along with the state Fire Commissioner's office, state and local fire marshals, and firefighters who respond to emergencies at these buildings.

Firefighters often cannot tell from the outside whether a building's structure is lightweight and prone to sudden collapse during a fire. Requiring visible warning signs would let responders make faster, safer decisions, while affected building owners would face new posting duties and possible penalties for noncompliance.

• Section 1 gives the act its short title, the 'Preston Fant and Brant Chesney Firefighter Safety Act.'
• Section 2 adds new Code Section 25-2-13.1, defining 'engineered I-joists' and 'light-frame truss-type construction.'
• Subsection (b) requires owners of covered buildings to post a Commissioner-approved sign or symbol warning of this construction type.
• Subsection (c) directs the Commissioner to set rules on sign dimensions and color, compliance timelines, and required posting locations.
• Subsection (d) authorizes the Commissioner, state fire marshal, and local fire marshals to enforce the law and subjects noncompliant owners to civil penalties under O.C.G.A. § 25-2-37.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 443
3. 2026-05-11House Date Signed by Governor (House)
4. 2026-04-06House Sent to Governor (House)
5. 2026-03-20Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
6. 2026-03-20Senate Third Read (Senate)
7. 2026-03-16Senate Read Second Time (Senate)
8. 2026-03-12Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)

• Johnny Chastain (R, HD-007)Primary sponsor
• Lauren McDonald (R, HD-026)
• Charles Cannon (R, HD-172)
• Derrick McCollum (R, HD-030)
• Rick Jasperse (R, HD-011)
• Brent Cox (R, HD-028)
• John Albers (R, SD-056)

1. PassedHouse voteFebruary 20, 2026

   161 yea, 0 nay (4 not voting, 12 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #540

2. PassedSenate voteMarch 20, 2026

   45 yea, 0 nay (3 not voting, 6 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #774

• firefighter safety
• building construction
• fire code
• commercial buildings
• public safety regulations