Representative Chastain presents insurance, fire-safety agency bill; committee suspends action for follow-up

Representative Chastain presented an agency bill from the Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner's office that would create a deputy commissioner for fire safety, standardize hearing processes across the agency, enhance fire fatality investigations and modernize fees and fines for smoke detectors in manufactured housing.

Chastain said the measure also clarifies appeals and provides a consistent hearing process; if the agency’s decision is upheld, an aggrieved party could seek review in superior court. Bryce Rawson, director of legislative affairs for the Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner's office, told the committee that current fines for some dwellings are lower than the cost of a modern smoke detector and the proposed increase—from $25 to $250 in the transcript—would help ensure inspections and enforcement are cost-justified. Rawson said the agency recently received appropriations for roughly 45 new fire-safety positions and that elevator inspection completion rates had improved from about 50% to roughly 90% after hiring those inspectors.

Committee members raised concerns about several provisions. One member expressed “heartburn” with a clause directing appeals to the Superior Court of Fulton County, saying it could impose a travel burden; another recommended a statewide business court as an efficiency alternative. The committee asked whether the proposed shortening of the appeals period from 15 days to 10 aligns with consumer protections; the agency representative agreed it could remain at 15 days if the committee preferred.

After extended questioning about venue for appeals, the Administrative Procedures Act language and other drafting details, Chairman Powell suspended action on the bill and asked the author and relevant members to meet with agency staff to resolve outstanding concerns. The chair stated the committee would reconvene to consider the bill after those discussions.

The committee did not record a roll-call tally for the suspension; the action was announced by the chair and documented in the transcript as a suspension and planned follow-up meeting.