Bill To Relocate State Fire Marshal’s Office Passes House

House Democrats News:

SANTA FE — Tuesday, House Bill 386, helping better serve rural and remote communities by making location and organizational changes to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, passed the House.

Sponsored by Rep. Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces), the bill seeks to better equip our invaluable emergency managers and to promote public safety by moving the Fire Marshal’s Office to the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM).

House Bill 386 mirrors Senate Bill 245 sponsored by Sen. William Burt (R-Alamogordo) who has long worked on this issue.

The State Fire Marshal Division is a part of the Public Regulation Commission (PRC). With the PRC based in Santa Fe, fire services in the state’s more rural and remote locations have reported lack of communication, staffing vacancies, various delays for investigations and funding deficiencies.

House Bill 386 addresses these ongoing concerns expressed by local fire services. Since DHSEM has a presence in all 33 New Mexican counties, this bill allows the Fire Marshal’s Office to collaborate more easily and efficiently with regional partners. 

“This bill better locates the Fire Marshal’s Office at the request of rural and more dispersed communities in our state,” Rep. Small said. “By offering more training, promotion, and resources statewide to local fire services, we can improve the capacity and efficiency of those who keep New Mexicans safe.”

House Bill 386 will now advance to the Senate for consideration.

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