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Committee backs narrow task force on visitability language, seeks fire safety input
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Summary
Conference negotiators agreed to include a narrow, definition‑focused committee to standardize terms such as "visitability" and "universal design" in state housing statutes, and they asked the Division of Fire Safety to confirm its role and review construction rules referenced in the draft.
Members of the conference committee said they had agreed to include a narrow panel — requested by housing agencies — to define technical terms used across housing statutes, such as "visitability" and "universal design." Lawmakers described the panel as limited to producing consensus definitions, not broad new standards.
Why it matters: Several state statutes and program rules use terms that local governments, builders and agencies interpret differently. Committee members said a short, narrowly scoped body could clarify terminology that appears in multiple funding and regulatory programs and reduce downstream confusion.
Fire safety and ADA oversight: Committee members asked whether the Division of Fire Safety had been consulted and whether its construction and life‑safety rules were compatible with any new visitability language. Mike Deroscher, speaking for the division, said he had reached out to Representative Burrows with materials about the division’s role, including chairing the accessibility board and promulgating ADA rules, and that he had provided construction requirements used during residential construction. “I reached out to Representative Burrows and provided her with a lot of information pertaining to how much the division of fire safety does in this arena, including chairing the accessibility board and promulgating ADA rules. I sent her our rules and some requirements we require during construction of all residential occupancies,” Deroscher said.
Scope and funding: Committee members noted the language had been requested by VHFA and that the program concept was funded in the budget at a level that the House draft had reflected; negotiators said they intended to retain a narrowly scoped definition workstream rather than a broad new regulatory regime.
Ending: The committee agreed to keep the narrow definition panel in the draft and to confirm the Division of Fire Safety’s participation and any adjustments to language before finalizing statutory text.
