Senate File 479 - Introduced SENATE FILE 479 BY COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT (SUCCESSOR TO SF 334) A BILL FOR An Act repealing energy conservation requirements for new 1 construction. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 2278SV (2) 90 ss/rn

S.F. 479 Section 1. Section 103A.8A, Code 2023, is amended to read 1 as follows: 2 103A.8A Energy conservation requirements —— rulemaking 3 requirements . 4 1. The state building code commissioner shall adopt as 5 a part of the state building code a requirement that new 6 single-family or two-family residential construction shall 7 comply with energy conservation requirements. The requirements 8 adopted by the commissioner shall be based upon a nationally 9 recognized standard or code for energy conservation. The 10 requirements shall only apply to single-family or two-family 11 residential construction commenced after the adoption of the 12 requirements. Notwithstanding any other provision of this 13 chapter to the contrary, the energy conservation requirements 14 adopted by the commissioner and approved by the council 15 shall apply to new single-family or two-family residential 16 construction commenced on or after July 1, 2008, and shall 17 supersede and replace any minimum requirements for energy 18 conservation adopted or enacted by a governmental subdivision 19 prior to that date applicable to such construction except 20 that a governmental subdivision may enact energy conservation 21 requirements that are less restrictive than the state building 22 code . The state building code commissioner may provide 23 training to builders, contractors, and other interested persons 24 on the adopted energy conservation requirements. 25 2. The state building code commissioner shall not amend 26 or rescind 661 IAC 303.2 or 661 IAC 303.3, as they existed 27 on January 1, 2023, except as required by the adoption of a 28 statute by the general assembly. The state building code 29 commissioner may submit a proposal to the general assembly for 30 the amendment or rescission of 661 IAC 303.2 or 661 IAC 303.3, 31 which shall include an estimate of all costs associated with 32 the amendment or rescission. 33 Sec. 2. Section 103A.10, subsection 4, paragraph a, Code 34 2023, is amended to read as follows: 35 -1- LSB 2278SV (2) 90 ss/rn 1/ 3

S.F. 479 a. Provisions of the state building code establishing 1 thermal efficiency energy conservation standards shall be 2 applicable to all construction in the state which will contain 3 enclosed space that is heated or cooled , except where a 4 governmental subdivision has enacted energy conservation 5 requirements that are less restrictive than the state 6 building code . The commissioner shall provide appropriate 7 exceptions for construction where the application of an energy 8 conservation requirement adopted pursuant to this chapter would 9 be impractical. 10 Sec. 3. Section 103A.10, subsection 5, Code 2023, is amended 11 to read as follows: 12 5. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to 13 the contrary, the energy conservation requirements adopted 14 by the commissioner and approved by the council shall apply 15 to all new construction commenced on or after July 1, 2008, 16 and shall supersede and replace any minimum requirements for 17 energy conservation adopted or enacted by the except that a 18 governmental subdivision prior to that date and applicable to 19 such construction may enact energy conservation requirements 20 that are less restrictive than the state building code . 21 Sec. 4. Section 103A.22, subsection 1, Code 2023, is amended 22 to read as follows: 23 1. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting 24 any governmental subdivision from adopting or enacting any 25 building regulations relating to any building or structure 26 within its limits, but a governmental subdivision in which 27 the state building code has been accepted and is applicable 28 shall not have the power to supersede, void, or repeal or 29 make more restrictive any of the provisions of this chapter 30 or of the rules adopted by the commissioner . This subsection 31 shall not apply to , except that a governmental subdivision 32 may adopt or enact energy conservation requirements that are 33 less restrictive than energy conservation requirements adopted 34 by the commissioner and approved by the council pursuant to 35 -2- LSB 2278SV (2) 90 ss/rn 2/ 3

S.F. 479 section 103A.8A or 103A.10 . 1 EXPLANATION 2 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 3 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 4 This bill relates to state energy conservation requirements. 5 The bill allows a governmental subdivision to adopt energy 6 conservation requirements that are less restrictive than the 7 state building code. The bill prohibits the state building 8 code commissioner from amending or rescinding current rules 9 creating energy conservation requirements except as required 10 by the adoption of a statute by the general assembly. The 11 bill allows the state building code commissioner to submit a 12 proposal for the amendment or rescission of energy conservation 13 requirements to the general assembly, which shall include 14 an estimate of all costs associated with the amendment or 15 rescission. 16 -3- LSB 2278SV (2) 90 ss/rn 3/ 3