HF 464 (LSB 2361YH (2) 86)

HOUSE FILE 464

BY  BEARINGER

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the state building code.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 103A.8, subsection 1, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  Provide uniform standards and requirements for construction, construction materials, and equipment through the adoption by reference of applicable national codes where appropriate and providing exceptions when necessary the most recent international building code developed by the international code council. The rules adopted shall include provisions imposing requirements reasonably consistent with or identical to recognized and accepted standards contained in performance criteria.
    Sec. 2.  Section 103A.10, subsection 2, Code 2015, is amended by adding the following new paragraph:
   NEW PARAGRAPH.  e.  To all newly constructed residential and all newly constructed or renovated commercial buildings and structures in this state. However, a governmental subdivision of the state may adopt and enforce higher standards than those required under the state building code.
    Sec. 3.  Section 103A.22, subsection 1, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting any governmental subdivision from adopting or enacting any building regulations relating to any building or structure within its limits, but a governmental subdivision in which the state building code has been accepted and is applicable shall not have the power to supersede, void, or repeal or make more restrictive any of the provisions of this chapter or of the rules adopted by the commissioner. This subsection shall not apply to energy conservation requirements adopted by the commissioner and approved by the council pursuant to section 103A.8A or 103A.10.
    Sec. 4.  IMPLEMENTATION OF ACT.  Section 25B.2, subsection 3, shall not apply to this Act.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires that the state building code provide uniform standards and requirements for construction, construction materials, and equipment through the adoption by reference of the most recent international building code developed by the international code council. The bill provides that the state building code is applicable to all newly constructed residential and all newly constructed or renovated commercial buildings and structures in the state. The bill also provides that a governmental subdivision of the state may adopt and enforce higher standards than those required under the state building code.
   The bill may include a state mandate as defined in Code section 25B.3. The bill makes inapplicable Code section 25B.2, subsection 3, which would relieve a political subdivision from complying with a state mandate if funding for the cost of the state mandate is not provided or specified. Therefore, political subdivisions are required to comply with any state mandate included in the bill.