Assembly Bill 844 mandates the creation of a stretch energy code in Wisconsin, requiring the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) to establish a working group for this purpose. The working group will consist of various stakeholders, including department employees, industry leaders in clean energy, nonprofit leaders focused on climate solutions, and representatives from municipalities with climate action plans. By December 31, 2026, the group must develop the stretch energy code, which will include separate components for commercial and residential buildings and set minimum energy efficiency requirements that may exceed those of the existing energy conservation code.

The bill also allows local governments—counties, cities, villages, or towns—to adopt the stretch energy code's components through ordinances, enabling them to enforce stricter energy standards than those currently established by DSPS, provided they conform to the new stretch energy code. Additionally, the bill increases the authorized full-time equivalent positions for the DSPS by one to facilitate the administration of the stretch energy code.