The bill amends Section 23-27.3-100.1.5.4 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-27.3, titled "State Building Code," to establish a state energy conservation code. This code will be based on recognized national and international models and will include provisions for building construction, renewable energy use, energy efficiency, and building orientation. The state building code standards committee is required to adopt the most recent International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and revise the state energy conservation code accordingly, with specific timelines for compliance. The 2024 IECC must be adopted within three months of its release.

Future versions of the IECC published by the International Code Council between 2025 and 2029 can only be adopted by the state building code standards committee upon a determination by the state department of business regulation, in conjunction with the state building code standards committee, that the particular version of the IECC is more energy efficient than the version then in use in the state. The department of business regulation shall make this determination within three months of the release of any update to the IECC during that period.

Additionally, the bill establishes a moratorium on changes to the state energy conservation code from the 2024 IECC until January 1, 2030, unless approved by the legislature and enacted by the governor. The bill will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
631: 23-27.3-100.1.5.4