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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

     Introduced By: Senators Ciccone, and Tikoian

     Date Introduced: February 13, 2026

     Referred To: Senate Housing & Municipal Government

     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

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 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.

     (g) On January 1, 2027, in order to assist with the implementation of new residential

contractor licensing requirements, with the exception of adopting the 2026 NEC and any

amendments thereto adopted by the BCSC, there shall be a moratorium on changing any state

building code applicable to residential structures of one to three (3) family dwelling units in effect

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until January 1, 2031, during which period the state building code standards committee shall not

adopt, and the state building office shall not enforce, any changes to the state building code, as

amended unless necessary to protect life and safety or is otherwise approved by the general

assembly and made effective by the governor.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

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     This act would adopt the 2024 International Residential Code for one to three (3) family

dwelling units by January 1, 2027, establish a moratorium on changes to the state building codes

applicable to residential structures of one to three (3) family dwelling units until January 1, 2031,

unless approved by the legislature and made effective by the governor, and to provide for uniform

procedures for the adoption and amendment of the state building code by the state building code

standards committee.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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