Bill: HB 738, 87(R) - 2021

Committee

House Land & Resource Management

2nd Chamber Committee

Senate Business and Commerce

Vote Recommendation

Vote Recommendation Economic Freedom Property Rights Personal Responsibility Limited Government Individual Liberty
Yes Neutral Neutral Neutral Positive Positive

Author(s)

Dennis Paul

Sponsor(s)

Robert Nichols

Bill Caption

Relating to the residential building codes of municipalities.

Fiscal Notes

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. 

Bill Analysis

HB 738 would bring building and residential codes up to date to the International Building and international residential Code for 2012. It would allow local governments to add, modify, or remove requirements set by the International Residential Code or the international building code provided that they hold a public hearing prior to amending the code. The provisions of this bill only apply to construction after January 1, 2022.

The senate substitute for this bill changes the bill to prohibit local governments from from enacting an ordinance, bylaw, order, building code, or rule that requires the installation of a certain sprinkler systems in a new or existing one or two family dwelling unless the local government adopted such rules before January 1, 2009 or an emergency service district that meets adjacency and population requirements has adopted such rules before February 1, 2013. 

Vote Recommendation Notes

Texas Action supports HB 738 on limited government and individual liberty grounds. Mandating the process to add, amend, or remove sections of the building code be held in a public hearing increases government transparency. 

Source URL (retrieved on 03/28/2024 11:03 AM): http://reports.texasaction.com/bill/87r/hb738?print_view=true