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House creates two-year working group to address residential energy-code compliance after lengthy floor debate
Summary
S.253 creates a working group to recommend strategies for increasing compliance with residential and commercial building energy codes, consider adopting a residential building code, and examine administration and enforcement; the House adopted amendments narrowing the working group's term and ordered third reading after extensive member questions about inspections, contractor registration and costs.
After extended floor discussion, the House proposed to the Senate to amend S.253, establishing a two-year working group to address persistent compliance problems with Vermont's building energy codes and to recommend administrative solutions.Member from Burlington (speaking for the environment and energy committee) framed S.253 as a continuation of prior study work (Act 47 / S.100) and said stakeholders requested a forum to resolve split jurisdiction, the lack of a residential building code, and limited institutional capacity. The bill creates a working group that would cease on July 1, 2026 and requires reports (November 2024 and 2025 under amendments).Sections remove statutory 'shall' language requiring periodic updates to residential/commercial building energy codes and instead make updates permissive until compliance gaps are addressed. House amendments limited the working group's duration and reduced reporting frequency at the public-service department's request.The House Appropriations Committee estimated the working group's cost at about $12,000 in FY2025 to the general fund; the bill allows hiring a third-party consultant but includes no dedicated appropriation for consultant services.Committee witnesses included the Office of Professional Regulation, Public Service Department, the Associated General Contractors, Vermont Association of Realtors, Building Energy Code Study Committee members, and industry representatives. Several members pressed concerns about inspection capacity, whether contractor registration resembles licensure, and the potential per-home cost increases associated with updated codes; contractors' testimony and prior studies were cited on compliance and cost impacts. Floor members asked multiple technical and oversight questions about the registry, enforcement, and the timing of code updates. After questioning and committee responses, the House ordered third reading and proposed to the Senate to amend as recommended by committee.
