By: Hinojosa H.B. No. 4496
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to municipal and county building codes.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 388.003(a) and (b), Health and Safety
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  To achieve energy conservation in single-family
  residential construction, on [the energy efficiency chapter of the
  International Residential Code, as it existed on May 1, 2001, is
  adopted as the energy code in this state for single-family
  residential construction. On] January [September] 1, 2022 [2016],
  the energy efficiency chapter of the International Residential
  Code, as it existed on May 1, 2021 [2015], is adopted as the energy
  code in this state for single-family residential construction. On
  or after January [September] 1, 2028 [2021], the State Energy
  Conservation Office may adopt and substitute for that energy code
  the latest published edition of the energy efficiency chapter of
  the International Residential Code, based on written findings on
  the stringency of the chapter submitted by the laboratory under
  Subsection (b-3). The office:
               (1)  may not adopt an edition under this subsection
  more often than once every six years; and
               (2)  by rule shall establish an effective date for an
  adopted edition that is not earlier than nine months after the date
  of adoption.
         (b)  To achieve energy conservation in all other
  residential, commercial, and industrial construction, the
  International Energy Conservation Code as it existed on May 1, 2021
  [2001], is adopted as the energy code for use in this state for all
  other residential, commercial, and industrial construction. The
  State Energy Conservation Office may adopt and substitute for that
  energy code the latest published edition of the International
  Energy Conservation Code, based on written findings on the
  stringency of the edition submitted by the laboratory under
  Subsection (b-3). The office by rule shall establish an effective
  date for an adopted edition that is not earlier than nine months
  after the date of adoption.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 214.212(a) and (d), Local Government
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  To protect the public health, safety, and welfare, the
  International Residential Code, as it existed on May 1, 2021
  [2001], is adopted as a municipal residential building code in this
  state.
         (d)  A municipality may review and consider amendments made
  by the International Code Council to the International Residential
  Code after May 1, 2021 [2001].
         SECTION 3.  Sections 214.214(a) and (c), Local Government
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), the National
  Electrical Code, as it existed on May 1, 2021 [2001], is adopted as
  the municipal electrical construction code in this state and
  applies to all residential and commercial electrical construction
  applications.
         (c)  The National Electrical Code applies to all commercial
  buildings in a municipality [for which construction begins on or
  after January 1, 2006,] and to any alteration, remodeling,
  enlargement, or repair of those commercial buildings.
         SECTION 4.  Sections 214.216(a), (b), (d), and (e), Local
  Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  To protect the public health, safety, and welfare, the
  International Building Code, as it existed on May 1, 2021 [2003], is
  adopted as a municipal commercial building code in this state.
         (b)  The International Building Code applies to all
  commercial buildings in a municipality [for which construction
  begins on or after January 1, 2006,] and to any alteration,
  remodeling, enlargement, or repair of those commercial buildings.
         (d)  A municipality may review and consider amendments made
  by the International Code Council to the International Building
  Code after May 1, 2021 [2003].
         (e)  A municipality that has adopted a more stringent
  commercial building code before January 1, 2022 [2006], is not
  required to repeal that code and may adopt future editions of that
  code.
         SECTION 5.  Section 233.062(c), Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  The fire code must:
               (1)  conform to:
                     (A)  the International Fire Code, as published by
  the International Code Council, as the code existed on May 1, 2021
  [2005]; or
                     (B)  the Uniform Fire Code, as published by the
  National Fire Protection Association, as the code existed on May 1,
  2021 [2005]; or
               (2)  establish protective measures that exceed the
  standards of the codes described by Subdivision (1).
         SECTION 6.  Section 233.153(a), Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  New residential construction of a single-family house
  or duplex in the unincorporated area of a county to which this
  subchapter applies shall conform to the version of the
  International Residential Code published as of May 1, 2021 [2008],
  or the version of the International Residential Code that is
  applicable in the county seat of that county.
         SECTION 7.  Section 233.153(b), Local Government Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 8.  The changes made by this Act apply only to
  residential or commercial construction, remodeling, alteration,
  enlargement, repair, or other activity, as applicable, that begins
  under an agreement made on or after January 1, 2022, or that begins,
  in the absence of an agreement, on or after that date. Residential
  or commercial construction, remodeling, alteration, enlargement,
  repair, or other applicable activity that begins under an agreement
  made before January 1, 2022, or that begins, in the absence of an
  agreement, before that date is governed by the law in effect when
  the agreement was made or the activity began, as appropriate, and
  that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 9.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2022.