The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 255, aims to establish a certification program for independent inspectors and inspection firms to conduct inspections under the State Building Code. This program will be developed by the State Building Inspector and the Codes and Standards Committee, with the approval of the Commissioner of Administrative Services. It will include classifications for inspectors and firms, detailing their duties, responsibilities, minimum qualifications, and insurance requirements. Additionally, an oversight and audit program will be implemented to ensure the quality and consistency of inspections performed by certified entities. The State Building Inspector will have the authority to charge a reasonable application fee for certification, which may be waived for applicants who demonstrate financial hardship.

The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2026, and introduces new legal language to current law, specifically establishing the certification program as a new section. The text also includes a deletion of proposed deletions and clarifications regarding the formatting of the bill, indicating that the entire text of the new section is not underlined. The overall purpose of the bill is to enhance the integrity and reliability of building inspections by certifying independent inspectors and firms.