BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3732

By: Martinez

Intergovernmental Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that fire departments with paid firefighters in Texas are required by statute to meet personal protective equipment (PPE) standards laid out by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and that these standards are rigorously developed by a large group of stakeholders over many years. The bill author has further informed the committee that the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) is responsible for ensuring that these standards are met. In the past five years, shortages and shipping delays have made obtaining some of the materials used to produce this equipment much harder, resulting in significant delays in the delivery of regulated and mandated equipment needed to replace or supplement existing PPE. H.B. 3732 seeks to give TCFP the ability to extend enforcement if there is a delay in PPE that results in a fire department being noncompliant.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission on Fire Protection in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3732 amends the Government Code to authorize a fire department to request an extension from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) to comply with the minimum standards adopted by TCFP. The bill requires TCFP to grant such a request if the fire department provides evidence TCFP finds sufficient to justify the extension.

H.B. 3732 requires TCFP to adopt rules necessary to implement the bill's provisions not later than April 1, 2026. The bill's provisions expire September 1, 2027.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.