In Memory of Fallen Firefighters, Senate Advances Tougher Penalties for Deadly Code Violations

Second Firefighter Safety Bill of the Session Doubles Down on Penalties for Injury-Causing Violations

(BOSTON—8/10/2026) The Massachusetts Senate today advanced legislation that establishes serious criminal penalties for fire code and building code violations that cause the injury or death of a firefighter, construction worker, or any member of the public.

The bill follows through on key recommendations of the Walsh-Kennedy Commission, formed by the Legislature to investigate public safety and licensing around hot work—including welding, plasma cutting, and spark-producing construction—following the tragic 2014 fire in Boston’s Back Bay.

The fire, which killed Boston Fire Lieutenant Edward Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy, was caused by unpermitted welding work.

“Lieutenant Walsh and Firefighter Kennedy’s lives were tragically cut short because someone chose to cut a corner,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Absolutely no one should lose a parent, spouse, or loved one because fire code was not followed, and this bill makes clear that we will hold people accountable if they ignore safety rules and put other people in danger. I applaud Senator Brownsberger and Senator Collins for their leadership and thank Chair Rodrigues for shepherding this legislation to the floor.”

“This is about justice,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Will Brownsberger (D-Belmont). “Carelessness can kill people. Everyone needs to know that there will be consequences when safety rules are recklessly ignored.”

“Reckless actions that needlessly endanger our firefighters and the general public, leading to injuries and even death, deserve serious criminal penalties,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “There’s a real possibility for danger when sparks and flames are used in a building project without the proper care. We’re following the lead of our Walsh-Kennedy Commission, which told us how to achieve a safer future for firefighters, construction workers, and the general public. And we’re doing so in memory of the brave firefighters who were taken from us too soon. Thank you to President Spilka for elevating this topic throughout the session, and thank you to my friends Senator Brownsberger and Senator Collins for their tireless work on this issue, which was borne from Boston’s tragedy in 2014.”

“This legislation is an important step toward setting clear standards for this dangerous work, strengthening accountability, and creating stronger incentives to put safety first,” said Senator Nick Collins (D-South Boston), Co-Chair of the Walsh-Kennedy Commission. “We learned from past tragedies, and we have a responsibility to carry those lessons forward to better protect workers, firefighters, and the neighborhoods where this work is taking place. I was proud to serve on the commission and have direct, informed conversations with the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts and Boston Firefighters Local 718, and I want to thank my Senate colleagues for helping see this effort through to this important point.”

Under the bill, people would face a criminal penalty of up to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $500,000 if they commit certain violations of the state fire code or building code that cause a death.

In cases where the violation causes serious bodily injury, the penalty would include up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The bill also significantly enhances the penalty for violations of the state fire prevention law related to hot work, increasing the fine for a first offense to $1,000 from the current $100 fine. Third and subsequent offenses for hot work violations could be penalized with up to two and a half years in a house of correction and a share of the building project’s total value.

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means redrafted the legislation this morning and reported it to the full Senate, which took an initial vote during today’s session. The full Senate plans to vote on passage of the bill on Thursday, August 13.

The underlying bill, co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives, was reviewed at a public hearing last year by the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. A version of the bill was passed by the House of Representatives this summer.

This is the second bill acted upon by the Senate this session intended to strengthen safety for first responders and tradespeople conducting hot work. The first bill, which went on to be passed by the House and signed by the Governor, created requirements for consistent tracking and notification of code violations.

Full details of the legislation is available in a fact sheet in the Senate press room.

All votes taken at the committee and chamber levels are publicly posted on the Legislature’s website.

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