HF3829 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Reporting on fires involving alternative energy systems required, and report required.
Related bill: SF3636
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- Add a new public safety requirement to collect information about fires that involve alternative energy systems (like wind, solar, hydro, geothermal) and to provide a summary of these fires to lawmakers.
Key Definitions
- Alternative energy system: systems that collect energy from wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, or other renewable sources to heat, cool, or generate electricity or other power.
Local Reporting Requirement
- Who must report: the chief of the fire department in a city or town, or (if no fire department exists) the mayor or town clerk.
- To whom: must report to the state fire marshal.
- What must be reported: information on any fire involving an alternative energy system, including the known cause, origin, circumstances, the amount of financial damage, and whether anyone was injured or killed.
- Timing: reports should be submitted as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
State Fire Marshal Coordination and Annual Summary
- Annual summary: the state fire marshal must, by February 15 each year, submit a summary of all reported fires involving alternative energy systems for the previous calendar year.
- Recipients: the summary must be sent to the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over fire safety.
Changes to Law
- Creates a new reporting requirement codified as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 299F, specifically adding a new section 299F.038.
- Establishes a process for local reporting and for annual data reporting to the Legislature to improve oversight and understanding of fires involving alternative energy systems.
Significance and Potential Impact
- Promotes data collection and transparency about fires linked to renewable energy installations.
- Helps legislators and safety officials assess risk, inform policy decisions, and potentially guide safety standards and code updates related to alternative energy systems.
Relevant Terms alternative energy system wind solar hydro geothermal Minnesota Statutes chapter 299F 299F.038 state fire marshal local fire department mayor town clerk cause origin circumstances financial damage injured killed report as soon as practicable annual summary chairs ranking minority members legislative committees fire safety
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 02, 2026 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | Public Safety Finance and Policy |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Introduces a reporting requirement for fires involving alternative energy systems to the state fire marshal, to be codified as a new section in Minnesota Statutes chapter 299F."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill references Minnesota Statutes chapter 299F and would add a reporting requirement for fires involving alternative energy systems, to be codified in that chapter.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "299F",
"subdivision": ""
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee