Committee hears overhaul bill to consolidate dozens of boards and move building-code adoption to DHS

At a hearing of the House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee, members reviewed House Bill 1003, a multi-year package designed to streamline nearly 300 state boards and commissions and to change how Indiana adopts building and fire codes. The committee considered three related amendments as a single motion and took the amendments by consent; the bill was not voted out of committee today.

Representative Bartels, the bill sponsor, described Amendment 1 as a ‘‘strip-and-insert’’ that removes highlighted sections from the original draft and said the result is an amended bill that reflects decisions informed by an executive-branch survey. ‘‘Amendment 1 is the bill,’’ Bartels said, urging members and the public to review the highlighted packet that shows deletions.

Bartels also outlined a separate amendment clarifying a multi-year transition of building-code authority. Under that change, the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission would be dissolved and its administrative-code references transferred so the General Assembly can codify building codes by 2028. Bartels said codes that expire before statutory codification will remain in force, DHS will not promulgate new rules during the interim, and citizens or businesses would be able to petition DHS or form ad hoc expert committees to review code changes.

The administration backed the bill. Adam Battaglia, senior policy adviser to Governor Braun, told the committee that the governor’s office worked with Representative Bartels "to study Indiana’s nearly 300 boards and commissions" and supports the consolidation as a way to make state government "more accountable, accessible, and navigable." Battaglia offered to publish the task-force data that informed the bill.

Industry groups and technical stakeholders raised concerns about the building-code transition. Chris Brzee of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association said eliminating the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission risks "politiciz[ing] the development of vital codes," removing technical experts from adoption and slowing updates that affect public safety and energy efficiency. The International Code Council likewise urged retaining a pathway for adoption by reference or equivalent access to model-code content.

DHS and other supporters said the department intends to maintain stakeholder subcommittees and public notice. Justin Goodell, chief of staff at IDHS, said DHS plans to work with the specialized groups that currently review codes and to publicize and solicit input while moving toward an annual legislative submission process.

The committee’s chairman offered an amendment to ensure currently adopted DHS rules for building code remain effective until superseded by rules codified by the General Assembly, preventing gaps in enforcement.

Members of the committee and witnesses repeatedly stressed the size of the amendment packet and the limited time for public review. Several committee members said they want more time to vet the texts and for affected parties to give input; Representative Bartels and the chair said further amendments will be filed and discussed next week.

The committee adopted the three amendment documents by consent and did not take a final vote on HB 1003 today. Members said additional drafting and stakeholder conversations will continue before the bill returns.