House Business Committee approves updated propane safety rules, adopts NFPA 58 (2024)

The House Business Committee on rules approved docket 24-2201-2401, a package of updated rules for the Idaho State Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety Board that incorporates the 2024 edition of the National Fire Protection Association’s NFPA 58 and revises licensing requirements for dealers and technicians.

Jessica Spoya, licensing and registration program manager for the Building, Construction and Real Estate Bureau at the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, presented the docket. “I am pleased to be here on behalf of the Idaho State Liquefied Petroleum Gas Safety Board to present docket number 24-2201-2401, which is found on page 56 of your legislative review book,” Spoya said, and described stakeholder engagement and the rule-redline and crosswalk materials provided to the committee.

The rules package adopts the 2024 NFPA 58 to “modernize Idaho's safety and operational framework for propane and prioritize public safety,” and replaces a prior one-year practical-experience requirement with a 2,000-hour work requirement for licensure. Spoya said the change aligns propane licensure with other trade licenses and allows the board to verify hours worked in the field rather than relying on a generic “one year” time period.

Committee members asked how substantive the NFPA update is and how the 2,000-hour requirement will be verified. Representative Ehlers asked whether there are substantive differences between the 2017 and 2024 NFPA editions; Spoya answered that some safety items will change, including dispenser pressure and metric marking allowances to align with Canadian trade. On verification, Spoya explained the division's online licensing system requires applicants to submit supervisor license information and employment dates; the system will flag unusual hour patterns and staff will request pay stubs or other verification when needed.

Representative Harris raised concerns that shifting to a 2,000-hour, self-attested reporting process could increase employer or applicant burden and might reduce accountability. Spoya replied the change is intended to streamline the process and reduce notarization requirements, and that staff will request additional evidence when the reported hours appear implausible. Representative Palmer asked what counts as a “facility” and whether retail convenience stores that fill small tanks are covered; Spoya replied that a facility could include gas stations, stores that refill customer tanks, or any site that dispenses propane, and said she would consult subject-matter experts on particular scenarios.

The committee approved the docket by voice vote. The motion to approve was made on the floor of the committee and carried by the ayes without a roll-call vote.