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House committee hears hourslong debate on HB241 over engineering requirements for fortified homes
Summary
A public hearing on HB241 drew builders, insurance and building-code officials, and county engineers to debate whether statewide limits should be placed on when structural engineering is required for single-family homes; lawmakers referred the bill to a subcommittee and no vote was taken.
Representative Eastbrook opened a public hearing on House Bill 241, a proposal that would limit engineering-plan requirements for many single‑family homes, saying the bill aims to reduce construction costs and speed homeownership.
The bill prompted extensive testimony for and against changes to current practice. Builders and homeowners described rising engineering fees and the added cost of Fortified certification, while county engineers, building officials and municipal representatives said professional design and stricter codes reduced storm damage and protected neighboring properties.
"The cost to build a house has doubled in the last eight years," a builder who testified during the hearing said. "I don't need this stamp. I built houses 30 years, and never had a problem." Representative Eastbrook repeated that the bill would apply to single‑family residences up to three…
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