Fire marshal fee increases advanced

An array of fees charged by the State Fire Marshal would increase under a bill given first-round approval April 23.

LB434, sponsored by Fremont Sen. Dave Wordekemper, would increase fees on more than a dozen licenses, inspections and reviews undertaken by the fire marshal’s office. For example, under the bill, a fireworks display permit would increase from $10 to $100, a retailer license from $25 to $100 and a distributor license from $500 to $1,000.

The bill also would increase the fee for building plan reviews from not more than $500 to not more than $10,000 and double the cap on fire alarm inspection fees from no more than $100 to no more than $200.

Wordekemper said many of the fees covered in the bill have not been changed in 20 or 30 years. Not only have the fees not kept up with inflation, he said, they do not cover the cost of providing the services.

“The bill proposes raising a number of fees to help offset the rising costs associated with inspections and licensing services provided by the office,” Wordekemper said.

A Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee amendment, adopted 37-0, would revise language relating to a late submittal fee. As drafted, the bill would have changed the late submittal fee for plans relating to a fire code inspection of remodeling or construction projects from $50 to an amount equal to 50% of the total projected cost of such remodel or construction.

Omaha Sen. Bob Andersen, vice chairperson of the committee, said that change was a drafting error. The committee amendment instead would change the late submittal fee to an amount equal to an additional 50% of the plan review fee.

Sen. Christy Armendariz of Omaha supported LB434. While acknowledging that some of the increases outlined in the bill might cause some “sticker shock,” she said those fees likely would be even higher if they had been adjusted regularly over the years.

Several senators expressed concern with the size of some of the fee increases, including a cap on the additional assessed fee for reviewing plans and blueprints, which the bill would increase from $250 to $5,000.

Wordekemper said he was open to working on the proposal to address concerns before the next round of debate.

Lawmakers advanced LB434 to select file on a 35-0 vote.