Connecticut SB 368: AN ACT CONCERNING A STATE EXPLOSIVES, BLASTING AND PYROTECHNIC CODE.

Bill Text

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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 368
February Session, 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING A STATE EXPLOSIVES, BLASTING AND
PYROTECHNIC CODE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) The Commissioner of 1
Emergency Services and Public Protection, in coordination with the 2
advisory committee established under subsection (b) of this section and 3
in accordance with the provisions of section 2 of this act, shall adopt and 4
administer a State Explosives, Blasting and Pyrotechnic Code based on 5
nationally recognized standards and codes. The code shall be revised at 6
the same time the State Building Code is revised pursuant to section 29-7
252 of the general statutes, and as deemed necessary to incorporate any 8
subsequent revisions to such nationally recognized standards and codes 9
not later than eighteen months following the date of first publication of 10
such revisions. The State Explosives, Blasting and Pyrotechnic Code 11
shall include provisions for explosives, blasting, gunpowder, fireworks, 12
pyrotechnics and rockets. 13
(b) There is established, within the Department of Emergency 14
Services and Public Protection, an advisory committee consisting of the 15
following eleven members: (1) The State Fire Marshal, or the marshal's 16
designee, (2) two members representing local fire marshals, deputy fire 17
marshals and fire inspectors, selected from a list of individuals 18

Substitute Bill No. 368

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submitted by the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association, (3) five 19
members representing the Division of State Police within the 20
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, (4) one 21
member representing the advisory committee established under 22
subsection (b) of section 29-291a of the general statutes, (5) one member 23
representing the Connecticut Career Fire Chiefs Association, and (6) one 24
member who has expertise in matters relating to the explosives or 25
pyrotechnics industry. All appointments to the advisory committee 26
shall be made by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public 27
Protection. 28
(c) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection 29
may issue official interpretations of the State Explosives, Blasting and 30
Pyrotechnic Code, including interpretations of the applicability of any 31
provision of the code, upon the request of any person. The 32
commissioner shall compile and index each interpretation and shall 33
publish such interpretations at periodic intervals not exceeding four 34
months. 35
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2026) (a) For the purposes of this 36
section, "proposed code" means a proposal by the Commissioner of 37
Emergency Services and Public Protection, in coordination with the 38
advisory committee, for a new State Explosives, Blasting and 39
Pyrotechnic Code or for a change in, addition to or repeal of any 40
provision of the State Explosives, Blasting and Pyrotechnic Code and 41
"advisory committee" means the advisory committee established under 42
subsection (b) of section 1 of this act. 43
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 54 of the general 44
statutes, the adoption of the State Explosives, Blasting and Pyrotechnic 45
Code and any amendments thereto shall not be required to comply with 46
the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, except as provided 47
in this section. 48
(c) Prior to the adoption of the State Explosives, Blasting and 49
Pyrotechnic Code and any amendments thereto, the Commissioner of 50

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Emergency Services and Public Protection shall (1) post any proposed 51
code, a statement of purpose for which the proposed code is proposed, 52
a fiscal note associated with compliance with the proposed code 53
prepared pursuant to section 4-168 of the general statutes and a 54
regulatory flexibility analysis prepared pursuant to section 4-168a of the 55
general statutes on the Internet web site of the Department of 56
Emergency Services and Public Protection, (2) give notice electronically 57
to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 58
cognizance of matters relating to public safety and security, (3) give 59
notice to any person who has requested the commissioner for advance 60
notice of the proposed code adoption proceedings, (4) provide for a 61
public comment period of forty-five days following the posting of such 62
proposed code, statement of purpose, fiscal note and regulatory 63
flexibility analysis, and (5) hold a public hearing on the proposed code 64
not less than twenty nor more than thirty-five days after such posting. 65
(d) After the close of the public comment period, the Commissioner 66
of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in coordination with the 67
advisory committee, shall respond to each written and oral comment 68
regarding the proposed code received during the public comment 69
period and at