Committee reviews recodification of building-code statutes; staff to refine draft before next session

The full subcommittee discussed a large recodification amendment intended to move building-code administration, enforcement, and boards of appeal language from multiple RSA chapters into RSA 155‑A. Phil Sherman, representing municipal interests, described the replacement amendment as primarily editorial and pointer-fixing: moving definitions and enforcement language, standardizing the term "building official," and carrying board-of-appeals and ordinance-adoption language into the consolidated statutory location.

Sherman said the amendment accounts for earlier House passage of HB 428 and that timing of effective dates is critical: the committee should ensure HB 428’s July effective date occurs before any recodification to avoid statutory gaps. The amendment also defines the term "code" in zoning statutes to avoid confusion about whether the state building code or other model codes apply.

Members and stakeholders said the draft is extensive and asked for time to review it closely. Phil Jazak of the New Hampshire Home Builders Association asked that a sentence—added during a prior conference—be removed because it could allow municipalities to choose differing technical codes if the state delays adoption of a newer model code; committee members sought clarification about whether the draft preserves the legislature’s established practice of adopting a code that stays three model revisions behind the model cycle.

No votes were taken. Committee members said staff and stakeholders will refine the draft and return it to the subcommittee for further consideration.