Numerous bills address state building codes

We are still sorting through a number of Building Code Council bill proposals. Two of these proposals are scheduled for a public hearing this week and one was heard last week.

SB 5412 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Local Government Committee at 1:30 pm on January 31. This most substantive part of this bill would create a legislative task force to review and provide recommendations on the structure, operations and resources of the State Building Code Council, and on the building code development process. The task force would report their findings to the legislature by October 1, 2018.

SB 5500 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Local Government Committee at 1:30 pm on February 2. This bill would limit substantial amendments to the building code to happen only every six years at a minimum with a few exceptions. It also specifies that the codes in effect at the time of building permit application are those that would apply to a project. Finally, the bill defines some new requirements for amendments to the state energy code.

SB 5304 was the subject of a public hearing in the Senate Commerce, Labor & Sports Committee on January 26. This bill would specify a new adoption requirement for the “electrical rules” that establish electrical wiring requirements for residential, institutional, and industrial buildings and structures.