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Bill would require salary review for deputy state fire marshals after witnesses say pay lags local agencies
Summary
House Bill 2,237 would require the Office of Financial Management to conduct a compensation evaluation for deputy state fire marshals against seven local jurisdictions and ask the state fire service policy board to report on making the State Fire Marshal's Office independent; proponents cited pay gaps and recruitment challenges.
The committee heard House Bill 2,237, which would require minimum monthly salaries for deputy state fire marshals to be competitive with a specified set of local fire jurisdictions and direct OFM to conduct an evaluation by 09/01/2026 and every four years thereafter.
Sam Tinsley, lobbyist for the Washington Public Employees Association, testified in support and cited a December 2023 fire service delivery report that state fire marshals are paid 35% to 55% less than comparable local positions, a gap that he said harms recruitment and retention and ultimately affects fire service delivery.
Staff also noted the bill would require the state fire service policy board to report by 12/01/2026 on the benefits and issues of establishing the State Fire Marshal's Office as independent from the Washington State Patrol.
No committee vote on final passage is recorded in the transcript.
