Committee weighs adding universal design to statewide residential building code

Members of the Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs committee discussed asking the state Division of Fire Safety to review and, if appropriate, incorporate universal design into work to adopt a statewide residential building code.

The committee said the move would aim to reduce conflicting requirements across energy, accessibility, historic preservation and flood-related standards that, they said, can raise costs or create confusion for builders. Committee members noted the Division of Fire Safety is starting a separate effort to consider a residential code, and that it would be efficient for that group to take up universal design now while it is convening.

Representative Scott Campbell attended the discussion and confirmed he would participate in the Division of Fire Safety’s initial meeting remotely. "I will be there," Campbell said. Committee members said that first meeting is scheduled for Friday from 9 to 11 a.m.

Discussion centered on whether to form an independent task force on universal design or to fold the work into the Division of Fire Safety’s residential code process. Committee members described widespread stakeholder interest — from home builders to preservationists and accessibility advocates — and warned that separate, uncoordinated code changes could collide around elements such as windows and doors, increasing complexity and cost for new construction and renovations.

Committee members said the Division of Fire Safety currently administers commercial building codes and is funded largely through permit fees; they noted adding scope to that office would likely require additional resources and could affect fee structures. They also said federal funding incentives played a role: the Division has moved to consider a residential code in part because FEMA offered funding under its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, and FEMA grant criteria favor states that adopt residential building codes.

The committee also discussed flood-code alignment with energy and moisture considerations, referencing the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirement that participating municipalities maintain flood regulations. Members said some communities are unfamiliar with NFIP obligations and that moisture, siting and grading need to be considered alongside energy-efficiency measures.

No formal motion or vote was taken. Committee members agreed to contact Mike Durocher, director of the state Division of Fire Safety, and to encourage that his residential building code convening consider universal design during its review. Representative Scott Campbell and other committee participants planned follow-up conversations with Durocher and to report back to the committee.

Background and next steps: Committee members said time is short in the legislative session and that a separate bill on related building standards is moving already in the House and Senate. The committee’s immediate next step is outreach to the Division of Fire Safety and participation in the Friday meeting; members said decisions about committee charges or new subcommittees would follow based on those discussions.