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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to municipal and county building codes. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 388.003(a) and (b), Health and Safety |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) To achieve energy conservation in single-family |
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residential construction, on January [the energy efficiency |
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chapter of the International Residential Code, as it existed on May |
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1, 2001, is adopted as the energy code in this state for |
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single-family residential construction. On September] 1, 2024 |
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[2016], the energy efficiency chapter of the International |
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Residential Code, as it existed on May 1, 2023 [2015], is adopted as |
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the energy code in this state for single-family residential |
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construction. On or after January [September] 1, 2030 [2021], the |
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State Energy Conservation Office may adopt and substitute for that |
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energy code the latest published edition of the energy efficiency |
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chapter of the International Residential Code, based on written |
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findings on the stringency of the chapter submitted by the |
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laboratory under Subsection (b-3). The office: |
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(1) may not adopt an edition under this subsection |
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more often than once every six years; and |
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(2) by rule shall establish an effective date for an |
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adopted edition that is not earlier than nine months after the date |
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of adoption. |
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(b) To achieve energy conservation in all other |
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residential, commercial, and industrial construction, the |
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International Energy Conservation Code as it existed on May 1, 2023 |
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[2001], is adopted as the energy code for use in this state for all |
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other residential, commercial, and industrial construction. The |
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State Energy Conservation Office may adopt and substitute for that |
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energy code the latest published edition of the International |
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Energy Conservation Code, based on written findings on the |
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stringency of the edition submitted by the laboratory under |
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Subsection (b-3). The office by rule shall establish an effective |
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date for an adopted edition that is not earlier than nine months |
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after the date of adoption. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 214.212(a) and (d), Local Government |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) To protect the public health, safety, and welfare, the |
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International Residential Code, as it existed on May 1, 2023 |
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[2012], is adopted as a municipal residential building code in this |
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state. |
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(d) A municipality may review and consider amendments made |
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by the International Code Council to the International Residential |
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Code after May 1, 2023 [2012]. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 214.214(a) and (c), Local Government |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the National |
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Electrical Code, as it existed on May 1, 2023 [2001], is adopted as |
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the municipal electrical construction code in this state and |
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applies to all residential and commercial electrical construction |
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applications. |
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(c) The National Electrical Code applies to all commercial |
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buildings in a municipality for which construction begins on or |
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after January 1, 2024 [2006], and to any alteration, remodeling, |
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enlargement, or repair of those commercial buildings. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 214.216(a) and (d), Local Government |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) To protect the public health, safety, and welfare, the |
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International Building Code, as it existed on May 1, 2023 [2012], is |
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adopted as a municipal commercial building code in this state. |
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(d) A municipality may review and consider amendments made |
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by the International Code Council to the International Building |
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Code after May 1, 2023 [2012]. |
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SECTION 5. Section 233.062(c), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(c) The fire code must: |
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(1) conform to: |
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(A) the International Fire Code, as published by |
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the International Code Council, as the code existed on May 1, 2023 |
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[2005]; or |
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(B) the Uniform Fire Code, as published by the |
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National Fire Protection Association, as the code existed on May 1, |
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2023 [2005]; or |
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(2) establish protective measures that exceed the |
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standards of the codes described by Subdivision (1). |
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SECTION 6. Section 233.153(a), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) New residential construction of a single-family house |
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or duplex in the unincorporated area of a county to which this |
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subchapter applies shall conform to the version of the |
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International Residential Code published as of May 1, 2023 [2008], |
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or the version of the International Residential Code that is |
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applicable in the county seat of that county. |
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SECTION 7. Section 233.153(b), Local Government Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 8. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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residential or commercial construction, remodeling, alteration, |
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enlargement, repair, or other activity, as applicable, that begins |
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under an agreement entered into on or after January 1, 2024, or that |
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begins, in the absence of an agreement, on or after that date. |
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Residential or commercial construction, remodeling, alteration, |
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enlargement, repair, or other applicable activity that begins under |
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an agreement entered into before January 1, 2024, or that begins, in |
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the absence of an agreement, before that date is governed by the law |
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in effect when the agreement was entered into or the activity began, |
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as appropriate, and that law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 9. This Act takes effect January 1, 2024. |