Statewide Fire Prevention Code Act; counterfeit and unsafe lighters prohibited.
Summary
HB2642 amends Virginia’s Statewide Fire Prevention Code to add explicit definitions for “counterfeit lighter” and “unsafe lighter,” and to direct the Board of Housing and Community Development to prohibit the public offering or sale of those products. A counterfeit lighter is defined by reference to intellectual property infringement, while an unsafe lighter is one that fails to meet specified ASTM safety standards for cigarette-style lighters or utility/grill/fireplace lighters.
The bill also updates the Fire Prevention Code framework governing fireworks and fire safety administration. It preserves existing authority over fireworks permits, pyrotechnician certification, local fire regulations that are more restrictive than the state code, and fire safety requirements for certain buildings, while clarifying that the new lighter prohibition does not apply to interstate transport through Virginia or storage in closed distribution centers or warehouses that do not sell to the public.
Impact
The bill amends Code of Virginia §§ 27-95 and 27-97, expanding the Statewide Fire Prevention Code’s subject matter to include consumer lighter safety and counterfeit product restrictions. It requires the Board to incorporate the new lighter prohibitions into the Fire Prevention Code, affecting manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and distributors of lighters, while leaving transit and non-public warehouse storage exempt. The measure does not alter the broader structure of local fire regulation authority, fireworks permitting, or existing building/fire drill requirements, but it adds a new state-level fire-safety and consumer-product compliance rule enforced through the Fire Prevention Code.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It advanced unanimously through House and Senate committee and floor votes, with no recorded dissent in any stage of the legislative process. The vote history suggests strong bipartisan agreement that the measure is a straightforward public safety and product standards update.
Contention
No significant contention is reflected in the available record. The only potentially sensitive policy issues are the scope of the new prohibition on counterfeit and unsafe lighters and the carve-outs for interstate transport and warehouse storage, but the unanimous votes indicate these provisions did not generate visible opposition. The bill also preserves local authority to adopt more restrictive fire regulations, which may have helped avoid conflict with local governments or fire officials.