The bill aims to address the rising costs of housing in Washington by directing the state building code council to control cost escalations associated with the state energy code. It highlights the current median home price of $700,683, which is unaffordable for 82% of households, and anticipates that by 2030, median prices could exceed $900,000. To mitigate these costs, the bill introduces provisions allowing code officials to approve construction designs that do not fully comply with the state energy code if full compliance is deemed physically impossible or economically impractical. Additionally, during the 2026 and 2029 code cycles, the council is prohibited from imposing requirements that would increase the total cost of building smaller residential units beyond the costs established in the energy code effective January 1, 2026.

The bill also amends existing law to clarify that code officials can approve less costly options from prior energy codes when current requirements exceed cost limitations, particularly for projects aimed at providing affordable housing. Furthermore, it includes a provision stating that actions taken by code officials in compliance with the new section are not subject to existing provisions regarding amendments to the state building code. The bill emphasizes the need for affordable housing solutions while maintaining safety standards, and it includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the act is found invalid, the remainder remains effective.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 19.27.060