H 7774

2026 -- H 7774 SUBSTITUTE A
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  STATE  OF        RHODE  ISLAND
  IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
  JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
  ____________
  AN ACT
  RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE
  Introduced By: Representatives Speakman, Cortvriend, Casey, Shekarchi, Giraldo,
  Alzate, Spears, Boylan, Kazarian, and Donovan
  Date Introduced: February 12, 2026
  Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1SECTION 1. Section 23-27.3-100.1.5 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-27.3 entitled
2 "State Building Code" is hereby amended to read as follows:
323-27.3-100.1.5. Building code — Adoption and promulgation by committee.
4(a) The state building code standards committee has the authority to adopt, promulgate,
5 and administer a state building code, which shall include:
6(1) Provisions and amendments as necessary including, but not limited to, those necessary
7 to resolve conflicts between fire safety codes and building codes, as provided for in § 23-28.01-6;
8 and
9(2) A rehabilitation building and fire code for existing buildings and structures.
10(b) The building code may be promulgated in several sections, with a section applicable
11 to:
12(1) One-, and two (2)-, three (3)-, and four (4)-family dwellings using the International
13 Residential Code ("IRC") from the International Code Council (“ICC”), and to three (3) family
14 dwelling units either using the IRC or by providing the same via an appendix to the Commercial
15 International Building Code (“IBC”), and any amendments thereto adopted by the state building
16 code standards committee;
17(2) To multiple dwellings with more than four (4) three (3) residential units, and hotels and
18 motels and other commercial structures using the Commercial International Building Code ("IBC")
19 from the ICC and any amendments thereto adopted by the state building code standards committee;
1(3) An energy conservation code using the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
2 and any amendments thereto adopted by the state building code standards committee; and
3(3)(4) To general building construction; to plumbing; and to electrical.
4(c) The building code shall incorporate minimum standards for the location, design,
5 construction, and installation of wells that are appurtenances to a building in applicable sections.
6 For purposes of this chapter, “appurtenance” includes the installation, alteration, or repair of wells
7 connected to a structure consistent with chapter 13.2 of title 46.
8(d) The building code and the sections thereof shall be reasonably consistent with
9 recognized and accepted standards adopted by national model code organizations and recognized
10 authorities. To the extent that any state or local building codes, statutes, or ordinances are
11 inconsistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title III, Public Accommodations and
12 Services Operated by Private Entities, 42 U.S.C. § 12181 et seq., and its regulations and standards,
13 they are hereby repealed. The state building code standards committee is hereby directed to adopt
14 rules and regulations consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Titles II and III (28
15 C.F.R. Part 35 and 28 C.F.R. Part 36, as amended), as soon as possible, but no later than February
16 15, 2012, to take effect on or before March 15, 2012. The state building code standards committee
17 is hereby authorized and directed to update those rules and regulations consistent with the future
18 revisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Standards.
19(e) All electrical work done in the state shall be in accordance with the latest edition of the
20 National Electrical Code (NEC). The state building code standards committee shall adopt the latest
21 edition of the NEC, including any amendments to the NEC by the committee. The adoption of the
22 NEC by the commission shall be completed so that it will take effect on the first day of July of the
23 year the edition is dated.
24(f) The 2024 IRC, including any amendments thereto adopted by the building code
25 standards committee (“BCSC”), shall take effect for one to three (3) family dwelling units not later
26 than January 1, 2027; provided that, for three (3) family dwelling units the BCSC may provide for
27 the same results via an appendix to the IBC. The revisions adopting the 2024 IRC and any other
28 2024 ICC codes, as well as the 2026 National Electric Code (NEC) published by the National Fire
29 Protection Association (NFPA), including any amendments thereto adopted by the BCSC, shall be
30 exempt from the provisions of §§ 42-35-2.9(b), 42-35.1-3, and 42-35.1-4.
31SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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  EXPLANATION
  BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
  OF
  AN ACT
  RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE
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1This act would adopt the 2024 International Residential Code for one to three (3) family
2 dwelling units by January 1, 2027.
3This act would take effect upon passage.
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