| Chapter 377 |
| 2026 -- H 7774 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/19/2026 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE |
Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, Cortvriend, Casey, Shekarchi, Giraldo, Alzate, Spears, Boylan, Kazarian, and Donovan |
| Date Introduced: February 12, 2026 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 23-27.3-100.1.5 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-27.3 entitled |
| "State Building Code" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 23-27.3-100.1.5. Building code — Adoption and promulgation by committee. |
| (a) The state building code standards committee has the authority to adopt, promulgate, |
| and administer a state building code, which shall include: |
| (1) Provisions and amendments as necessary including, but not limited to, those necessary |
| to resolve conflicts between fire safety codes and building codes, as provided for in § 23-28.01-6; |
| and |
| (2) A rehabilitation building and fire code for existing buildings and structures. |
| (b) The building code may be promulgated in several sections, with a section applicable |
| to: |
| (1) One-, and two (2)-, three (3)-, and four (4)-family dwellings using the International |
| Residential Code ("IRC") from the International Code Council (“ICC”), and to three-(3)family (3) |
| dwelling units either using the IRC or by providing the same via an appendix to the Commercial |
| International Building Code (“IBC”), and any amendments thereto adopted by the state building |
| code standards committee; |
| (2) To multiple dwellings with more than four (4) three (3) residential units, and hotels and |
| motels and other commercial structures using the Commercial International Building Code ("IBC") |
| from the ICC and any amendments thereto adopted by the state building code standards committee; |
| (3) An energy conservation code using the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) |
| and any amendments thereto adopted by the state building code standards committee; and |
| (3)(4) To general building construction; to plumbing; and to electrical. |
| (c) The building code shall incorporate minimum standards for the location, design, |
| construction, and installation of wells that are appurtenances to a building in applicable sections. |
| For purposes of this chapter, “appurtenance” includes the installation, alteration, or repair of wells |
| connected to a structure consistent with chapter 13.2 of title 46. |
| (d) The building code and the sections thereof shall be reasonably consistent with |
| recognized and accepted standards adopted by national model code organizations and recognized |
| authorities. To the extent that any state or local building codes, statutes, or ordinances are |
| inconsistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title III, Public Accommodations and |
| Services Operated by Private Entities, 42 U.S.C. § 12181 et seq., and its regulations and standards, |
| they are hereby repealed. The state building code standards committee is hereby directed to adopt |
| rules and regulations consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Titles II and III (28 |
| C.F.R. Part 35 and 28 C.F.R. Part 36, as amended), as soon as possible, but no later than February |
| 15, 2012, to take effect on or before March 15, 2012. The state building code standards committee |
| is hereby authorized and directed to update those rules and regulations consistent with the future |
| revisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Standards. |
| (e) All electrical work done in the state shall be in accordance with the latest edition of the |
| National Electrical Code (NEC). The state building code standards committee shall adopt the latest |
| edition of the NEC, including any amendments to the NEC by the committee. The adoption of the |
| NEC by the commission shall be completed so that it will take effect on the first day of July of the |
| year the edition is dated. |
| (f) The 2024 IRC, including any amendments thereto adopted by the building code |
| standards committee (“BCSC”), shall take effect for one-to three-(3)family (3) dwelling units not |
| later than January 1, 2027; provided that, for three (3) family dwelling units the BCSC may provide |
| for the same results via an appendix to the IBC. The revisions adopting the 2024 IRC and any other |
| 2024 ICC codes, as well as the 2026 National Electric Code (NEC) published by the National Fire |
| Protection Association (NFPA), including any amendments thereto adopted by the BCSC, shall be |
| exempt from the provisions of §§ 42-35-2.9(b), 42-35.1-3, and 42-35.1-4. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC005049/SUB A |
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