House passes bill tightening accessibility standards for commercial and multifamily buildings after heated debate

The House on Feb. 4 passed House Bill 10 30, a measure aimed at ensuring that municipal and county building-code updates include accessibility standards at least as stringent as the International Building Code and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Representative Stewart, presenting the committee report, said the amendment package “defines better what a substantial update is” and limits the IBC provisions to multifamily and commercial buildings while clarifying that “codes cannot provide less protection than the Americans with Disabilities Act.”

The bill’s sponsor, Representative Joseph, asked the chamber to approve the measure after committee changes; lawmakers then debated the bill for more than two hours. Opponents warned the changes could raise housing costs and erode local control. Representative Soukla, who moved an amendment (L004) to narrow the bill further,…