Provides relative to Class B fire fighting foam. (8/1/26)

Senate Bill 375 amends Louisiana Revised Statutes 40:1615(A)(4) and enacts a new subsection 40:1615(A)(5) to expand and clarify the statutory definitions governing Class B fire fighting foam containing fluorinated organic chemicals. The bill replaces the existing narrow definition of "testing" as limited to calibration testing, conformance testing, or fixed system testing with a substantially broader definition encompassing the evaluation of fire fighting equipment, systems, or foam concentrates for operability, performance verification, calibration, conformance to manufacturer specifications, or regulatory compliance, including specific examples such as discharge testing of fixed fire suppression systems, mobile apparatus testing, proportioning system calibrations, and system acceptance testing. The legislation explicitly excludes emergency fire fighting operations from the definition of testing. Additionally, the bill creates an entirely new statutory definition of "training" as instruction, drills, exercises, demonstrations, or other activities conducted to familiarize personnel with the deployment, handling, storage, mixing, proportioning, or application of fire fighting foam, encompassing live fire exercises and simulated fire response scenarios, while similarly excluding emergency fire fighting operations from this definition.

These definitional changes affect fire departments, training facilities, equipment manufacturers, and regulatory agencies responsible for overseeing fire suppression systems throughout Louisiana. By expanding the definition of testing to include a wider range of performance evaluation activities, the legislation clarifies what activities constitute permissible testing of fire fighting foam and equipment outside of actual emergency response. The new training definition establishes a clear framework for what educational and preparatory activities involving fire fighting foam are encompassed by statutory regulation. Fire service personnel and organizations will benefit from clearer guidance on which activities fall within testing and training categories, potentially affecting compliance obligations, liability considerations, and operational protocols related to the use and handling of Class B fire fighting foam.

Senate Bill 375 operates within the existing statutory framework of R.S. 40:1615, which regulates Class B fire fighting foam containing fluorinated organic chemicals in Louisiana. The statute establishes use restrictions and requirements for fire fighting foam products, and these definitional amendments provide essential interpretive guidance for implementing those restrictions. By explicitly carving out emergency fire fighting operations from both testing and training definitions, the legislation preserves the distinction between non-emergency preparatory and evaluative activities and actual emergency response, ensuring that fire departments and responders can conduct necessary emergency operations without unintended regulatory constraints. The effective date of August 1, 2026 provides a prospective implementation period for stakeholders to align their practices with the expanded definitions.