TITLE 37. PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS

PART 13. TEXAS COMMISSION ON FIRE PROTECTION

CHAPTER 427. TRAINING FACILITY CERTIFICATION

The Texas Commission on Fire Protection (Commission) adopts amendments to 37 TAC §427.11 and §427.211, concerning Reference Material; §427.301, concerning General Provisions for Training Programs--On-Site and Distance Training Providers; and §427.403, concerning Financial Standards, without changes to the proposed text as published in the May 1, 2026, issue of the Texas Register (51 TexReg 2882). The rules will not be republished.

JUSTIFICATION FOR RULE ACTION

The Commission adopts these amendments to update requirements for certified training facilities and distance training providers under Chapter 427. The amendments to §427.11 and §427.211 clarify that a facility's required reference library may be maintained in physical or digital format and update the description of required reference materials to align with the applicable curriculum. The amendment to §427.301 adds a new subsection requiring training providers to report all injuries and burn injuries that occur during training through the Commission's injury report system. The amendment to §427.403 removes an outdated renewal requirement under which entities certified under Subchapter D were required to submit a balance sheet with a sworn statement upon application for renewal.

HOW THE RULE WILL FUNCTION

As adopted, §427.11 and §427.211 permit a training facility's or distance training provider's reference library to be maintained in physical or digital form and require the library to contain each of the required and recommended references identified in the applicable curriculum. Section 427.301 requires on-site and distance training providers to report all injuries and burn injuries occurring during training via the TCFP injury report system. Section 427.403 no longer requires entities certified under Subchapter D to submit a balance sheet with a sworn statement as part of a renewal application.

SUMMARY OF COMMENTS

The Commission did not receive any comments regarding adoption of these amendments.

SUBCHAPTER A. ON-SITE CERTIFIED TRAINING PROVIDER

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

The amendment to §427.11 is adopted under Texas Government Code §§419.008 and 419.032, which authorize the Commission to adopt rules for the administration of its statutory responsibilities.

No other statutes, articles, or codes are affected by this adoption.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on July 23, 2026.

TRD-202603133

Mike Wisko

Agency Chief

Texas Commission on Fire Protection

Effective date: August 12, 2026

Proposal publication date: May 1, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 936-3812

SUBCHAPTER B. DISTANCE TRAINING PROVIDER

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

The amendment to §427.211 is adopted under Texas Government Code §§419.008 and 419.032, which authorize the Commission to adopt rules for the administration of its statutory responsibilities.

No other statutes, articles, or codes are affected by this adoption.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on July 23, 2026.

TRD-202603131

Mike Wisko

Agency Chief

Texas Commission on Fire Protection

Effective date: August 12, 2026

Proposal publication date: May 1, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 936-3812

SUBCHAPTER C. TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR ON-SITE AND DISTANCE TRAINING PROVIDERS

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

The amendment to §427.301 is adopted under Texas Government Code §§419.008 and 419.032, which authorize the Commission to adopt rules for the administration of its statutory responsibilities.

No other statutes, articles, or codes are affected by this adoption.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on July 23, 2026.

TRD-202603132

Mike Wisko

Agency Chief

Texas Commission on Fire Protection

Effective date: August 12, 2026

Proposal publication date: May 1, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 936-3812

SUBCHAPTER D. CERTIFIED TRAINING FACILITIES

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

The amendment to §427.403 is adopted under Texas Government Code §§419.008 and 419.032, which authorize the Commission to adopt rules for the administration of its statutory responsibilities.

No other statutes, articles, or codes are affected by this adoption.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on July 23, 2026.

TRD-202603130

Mike Wisko

Agency Chief

Texas Commission on Fire Protection

Effective date: August 12, 2026

Proposal publication date: May 1, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 936-3812

CHAPTER 435. FIRE FIGHTER SAFETY

The Texas Commission on Fire Protection (Commission) adopts amendments to 37 TAC §435.23, concerning Fire Protection Personnel Injuries; §435.25, concerning Courage to be Safe So Everyone Goes Home Program; §435.29, concerning Federal Highway Administration Traffic Incident Management Program; and §435.31, concerning Firefighter Cancer Support Network Cancer Awareness Training Program, without changes to the proposed text as published in the May 1, 2026, issue of the Texas Register (51 TexReg 2884). The rules will not be republished.

JUSTIFICATION FOR RULE ACTION

The Commission adopts these amendments to clarify and strengthen firefighter safety requirements administered by the Commission. The amendment to §435.23 updates the definition of investigable injuries to better reflect current injury reporting needs, including burns sustained from emergency operations or training. The amendments to §§435.25, 435.29, and 435.31 convert existing one-time training requirements into recurring five-year renewal requirements for the Courage to be Safe So Everyone Goes Home, Federal Highway Administration Traffic Incident Management, and Firefighter Cancer Support Network Cancer Awareness programs, ensuring that fire protection personnel remain current on critical safety topics throughout their careers. The amendment to §435.31 also removes outdated date references that have passed.

HOW THE RULE WILL FUNCTION

As adopted, §435.23 expands the categories of investigable fire protection personnel injuries to include burns sustained from emergency operations or training and the top three injuries identified from the annual injury report. As adopted, §§435.25, 435.29, and 435.31 require fire protection personnel to complete the applicable safety training within one year of appointment and to renew that training at least every five years, and regulated entities will have three years from adoption to come into compliance. Completion continues to be reported through the Commission's web-based reporting system, and failure to complete the training by the required deadline remains a violation of the continuing education rules in Chapter 441 of this title (relating to Continuing Education).

SUMMARY OF COMMENTS

The Commission did not receive any comments regarding adoption of these amendments.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

The amendment to §435.23 is adopted under Texas Government Code §§419.008 and 419.032, which authorize the Commission to adopt rules for the administration of its statutory responsibilities.

No other statutes, articles, or codes are affected by this adoption.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on July 27, 2026.

TRD-202603169

Mike Wisko

Agency Chief

Texas Commission on Fire Protection

Effective date: August 16, 2026

Proposal publication date: May 1, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 936-3812

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

The amendment to §435.25 is adopted under Texas Government Code §§419.008 and 419.032, which authorize the Commission to adopt rules for the administration of its statutory responsibilities.

No other statutes, articles, or codes are affected by this adoption.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on July 27, 2026.

TRD-202603170

Mike Wisko

Agency Chief

Texas Commission on Fire Protection

Effective date: August 16, 2026

Proposal publication date: May 1, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 936-3812

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

The amendment to §435.29 is adopted under Texas Government Code §§419.008 and 419.032, which authorize the Commission to adopt rules for the administration of its statutory responsibilities.

No other statutes, articles, or codes are affected by this adoption.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on July 27, 2026.

TRD-202603171

Mike Wisko

Agency Chief

Texas Commission on Fire Protection

Effective date: August 16, 2026

Proposal publication date: May 1, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 936-3812

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

The amendment to §435.31 is adopted under Texas Government Code §§419.008 and 419.032, which authorize the Commission to adopt rules for the administration of its statutory responsibilities.

No other statutes, articles, or codes are affected by this adoption.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on July 27, 2026.

TRD-202603172

Mike Wisko

Agency Chief

Texas Commission on Fire Protection

Effective date: August 16, 2026

Proposal publication date: May 1, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 936-3812

CHAPTER 437. FEES

The Texas Commission on Fire Protection (Commission) adopts an amendment to 37 TAC §437.7, concerning Standards Manual and Certification Curriculum Manual Fees, without changes to the proposed text as published in the May 22, 2026, issue of the Texas Register (51 TexReg 3542). The rule will not be republished.

JUSTIFICATION FOR RULE ACTION

The Commission adopts this amendment to remove outdated language referencing Thomson West as a source for printed copies of the Commission's standards manuals and to direct individuals to obtain official printed copies from authorized legal publishers or by downloading the publicly available digital versions from the Texas Secretary of State website.

HOW THE RULE WILL FUNCTION

As adopted, §437.7 continues to provide that current versions of the Standards Manual for Fire Protection Personnel and Certification Curriculum Manual are available on the commission's website. The amendment updates subsection (b) to remove the outdated Thomson West contact information and to direct individuals seeking printed copies to authorized legal publishers or to the publicly available digital versions on the Texas Secretary of State website.

SUMMARY OF COMMENTS

The Commission did not receive any comments regarding adoption of the amendment.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

The amendment is adopted under Texas Government Code §419.008, which authorizes the Commission to adopt rules for the administration of its powers and duties.

No other statutes, articles, or codes are affected by this adoption.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on July 27, 2026.

TRD-202603148

Mike Wisko

Agency Chief

Texas Commission on Fire Protection

Effective date: August 16, 2026

Proposal publication date: May 22, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 936-3812