NFPA praises Senate introduction of bipartisan Pro Codes Act to protect safety standards

QUINCY, Mass. — The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has praised the introduction of the bipartisan Protecting and Enhancing Public Access to Codes (Pro Codes) Act (S. 4145) in the U.S. Senate.

For nearly 130 years, safety standards developed by independent nonprofit organizations like NFPA have protected people and property. These safety standards have dramatically reduced dangers like fire incidents and deaths and helped our communities better prepare for threats like active shooters.

“The safety challenges facing our communities — from wildfires to EV batteries — are evolving faster than ever. Helping meet them depends on an independent standards development system powered by thousands of technical experts, but that system is under serious threat,” said NFPA President and CEO Jim Pauley. “We’re grateful to Sens. Coons and Cornyn, as well as Sens. Tillis and Hirono, for introducing the Pro Codes Act and protecting the copyrights essential to sustaining this critical public-private partnership.”

In the U.S. House of Representatives, House Judiciary Subcommittee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Rep. Deborah Ross (D-N.C.) introduced a version of the Pro Codes Act in June 2025 (H.R. 4072).

“For-profit companies and foreign actors who played no role in creating these life-saving standards are trying to exploit them for their own commercial gain,” said Pauley. “This undermines the organizations that have worked for decades to keep our communities safe. We need clear congressional action to protect the ecosystem that underpins modern fire, electrical, and building safety. With House and Senate versions of Pro Codes now introduced, we’re hopeful Congress will pass this critical legislation into law.”

The legislation was introduced by Sens. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) and co-sponsored by Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).