The bill amends sections of the General Laws in Chapter 23-27.3 entitled "State Building Code." It revises the composition and appointment process of the building code standards committee, specifying that the committee will now consist of twenty-five members with varying terms of appointment. The qualifications for committee members are detailed, including a requirement for at least five years of practical experience in their respective fields. The bill also changes the quorum requirement from thirteen members to a majority of current members. Additionally, it outlines the structure of the state housing and property maintenance code subcommittee, which includes members appointed by both the committee and the governor.
The bill grants the state building standards committee the authority to adopt, promulgate, and administer a state building code, which will be consistent with national model code organizations and the Americans with Disabilities Act. It specifies that the building code will be divided into sections applicable to different types of dwellings and will use the 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) for one to four-family dwellings and the 2024 Commercial International Building Code (IBC) for multiple dwellings with more than four-family units. The bill also mandates that all electrical work in the state comply with the latest edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC). The act is set to take effect on January 30, 2025.