Senate approves construction and electrical code update including changes to low-NOx water heater rules

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Senate on March 7 approved fourth substitute House Bill 313, a package of changes that updates construction and electrical code references and clarifies state requirements for certain low-nitrogen-oxide (NOx) water heaters.

Senator Dan Musselman, presenting the bill on the Senate floor, said the substitute consolidates code language after recent changes to allow consistent standards for fourplex construction and other building-code updates. "There are a lot of acronyms, I know. I don't know how to make this exciting, mister president. It's boring," Musselman said on the floor.

Nut graf: The substitute brings several previously dispersed code provisions together — including adoption of newer National Electrical Code provisions recommended by the Electrical Advisory Committee — and adjusts statutory references for appliances regulated under the state construction code. The bill passed on a roll call after debate and will be returned to the House for further consideration.

What the bill does: The fourth substitute: - Aligns multiple portions of the state code after earlier fourplex and fire-code adjustments. - Amends state construction code references to adopt updated electrical standards, including a recommendation to adopt the 2023 National Electrical Code. - Adjusts the state's emissions requirement language for low-NOx (Lonox) water heaters, noting that, unlike California (which applies the standard only in nonattainment areas), Utah's current statute applies the stricter emissions standard statewide; the substitute moves the statute toward a model closer to California's approach for specified areas.

Senator Musselman said the bill also adds provisions to ease cost burdens for residential construction, such as allowing up to three-story residential properties under amended parts of the 2021 International Building Code. He also noted that sections were recommended by the Electrical Advisory Committee, an advisory body to the Utah Uniform Building Code Commission.

The vote: Fourth substitute House Bill 313 passed the Senate on a roll call vote, 22–6, with 1 senator absent. The bill will be returned to the House for its further action.

Authorities and references: During floor remarks Senator Musselman referenced the state construction fire-code act (Title 15A) in describing existing emissions limits that apply to certain water heaters.

Next steps: With Senate passage, the substitute will be sent back to the House for any concurrence or final action. Implementation details, including any phased compliance windows for affected jurisdictions, will depend on the bill's final enrolled language and administrative rule changes by the appropriate agencies.

Source: Utah Senate floor transcript, March 7, 2025.