The bill SB 437 revises the procedures and requirements for local legislative bodies regarding the adoption and enforcement of amendments to the state building code. It mandates that local ordinances amending the state building code must follow established review and approval procedures and that such amendments must not be less stringent than the state code. Local legislative bodies are permitted to adopt nationally recognized codes not included in the state building code unless they overlap in scope with codes reviewed by the building code review board. Amendments and codes adopted before July 1, 2024, must be reviewed by the board for compliance, and any amendment not submitted within 60 days of the effective date of this paragraph cannot be enforced. The bill includes insertions to RSA 155-A:2, V, RSA 47:22, and RSA 155-A:2, VIII, which clarify the conditions under which local regulations or amendments can be adopted and enforced, and it requires that local amendments to the state building and fire codes be reviewed by the appropriate state authorities.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the process for municipalities to submit proposed amendments to the state building code for review and confirmation. Cities must submit proposed amendments 90 days before final adoption, while towns must submit them 10 days after the final public hearing. The building code review board is tasked with reviewing and confirming proposed amendments within specified time frames, and failure to act within these time frames results in automatic confirmation of the municipal amendment. The board's review is limited to ensuring compliance with RSA 674:51 or RSA 47:22 and that there is no conflict with the fire code. Additionally, RSA 674:51-a is repealed. The act takes effect on July 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 155-A:2, 47:22
As Amended by the Senate: 155-A:2, 47:22, 155-A:3, 155-A:10, 674:51-a
Version adopted by both bodies: 155-A:2, 47:22, 155-A:3, 155-A:10, 674:51-a
CHAPTERED FINAL VERSION: 674:51, 47:22, 155-A:2, 155-A:3, 155-A:10, 674:51-a