HB1086: HB1086 Preston Fant and Brant Chesney Firefighter Safety Act; enact

Light-frame truss-type construction and engineered I-joists (EIJ) are common, lightweight building materials that can fail faster than solid lumber during a fire, creating extra danger for firefighters. This bill, named for two firefighters, adds a new section to Georgia's fire safety laws (O.C.G.A. Chapter 2 of Title 25) requiring owners of qualifying buildings to post a sign or symbol warning emergency responders about this type of construction. The bill covers commercial buildings, industrial buildings, and multiunit residential buildings or structures with three or more units. The State Fire Safety Commissioner would set rules for the sign's size, color, placement, and compliance deadlines. The Commissioner, the state fire marshal, and local fire marshals could enforce the requirement, and owners who do not comply would face civil penalties under existing Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 25-2-37).

• Creates a new Georgia Code section (O.C.G.A. § 25-2-13.1) requiring warning signs on buildings built with light-frame truss construction or engineered I-joists.
• Applies the posting requirement to commercial buildings, industrial buildings, and multiunit residential buildings or structures with three or more units.
• Directs the state Fire Safety Commissioner to write rules covering the sign's dimensions, color, required posting location, and compliance timeline.
• Gives the Commissioner, the state fire marshal, and local fire marshals authority to enforce the signage requirement.
• Subjects noncompliant building owners to civil penalties under Georgia's existing fire safety penalty law (O.C.G.A. § 25-2-37).
• Names the law the 'Preston Fant and Brant Chesney Firefighter Safety Act.'

Owners of qualifying commercial, industrial, and multiunit residential buildings, who must post the warning signs; the state Fire Safety Commissioner, who must write implementing rules; and state and local fire marshals, who gain enforcement authority and benefit from the warning when responding to fires.

Firefighters responding to a building fire would get advance visual warning that the structure uses lightweight framing prone to faster collapse, which could affect decisions about entering the building or how long crews stay inside during firefighting operations.

• 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' in subsection (a).
• Subsection (b) requires owners of covered buildings to post an approved sign or symbol warning of this construction type.
• Subsection (c) requires the Commissioner to set rules on sign dimensions and color, compliance deadlines, and required posting locations.
• Subsection (d) authorizes the Commissioner, state fire marshal, and local fire marshals to enforce the law and makes noncompliant owners subject 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 codes
• fire marshal regulations
• construction requirements
• public safety signage