The House of Representatives recently approved the Promoting Resilient Buildings Act (H.R. 5473), which is supported by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). This legislation, geared towards addressing mounting concerns of local governments and home builders, aims to maintain local autonomy over the building code adoption process, while incentivizing communities to fortify themselves against and recover from extreme events.

 

H.R. 5473 focuses on extending of the definition of "latest published editions" in building codes, as outlined by the Disaster Recovery Reform Act's pre-disaster hazard mitigation program. This extension, proposed to be made permanent, alleviates the sunset clause that would have expired in October 2023. By doing so, the legislation prevents Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) pressures that could potentially force jurisdictions into adopting the very latest building codes without adequate evaluation and amendment.

NAHB, advocating for the swift passage of H.R. 5473, emphasizes the importance of protecting building code flexibilities at state and local levels, particularly in a time when the nation is grappling with a housing affordability crisis. The association underscores the need to encourage communities to enhance resilience without imposing unnecessary costs and uncertainties on the home building process. With this House approval, NAHB is actively working to introduce a companion bill in the Senate, solidifying its commitment to fostering resilient and cost-effective building practices nationwide.

https://www.nahb.org/blog/2023/12/codes-bill