Senator Dixon narrows virtual-inspection rules in substitute to Senate Bill 437

Senator Clint Dixon presented a substitute to Senate Bill 437 to tighten language added earlier in the committee process about when municipalities may accept virtual building inspections. "This bill ... has to do with building permits and the shot clock," Dixon said, and the substitute would strike the prior wording and restrict virtual inspections to certain residential construction trades.

The substitute narrows eligibility so virtual inspections would apply only to reinspections consisting of 10 or fewer items and only for residential single-construction trades such as structural, plumbing, mechanical and electrical work, the sponsor said. Committee members asked whether the change would affect inspections for footings, septic systems or other environmental inspections. "Serious question. It doesn't include environmental inspections," Senator Gates asked; the sponsor replied the substitute was not intended for those inspections and said the issue could be revisited, possibly in the House.

After questions, Senator Gu moved a do-pass recommendation. Senator Anderson raised a separate point asking how the substitute would affect smaller counties that use third-party code inspectors; the sponsor said it would not change local processes and would preserve third-party options. With no further discussion, the committee voted by raised hands and the motion carried unanimously.

The committee's action sends the substitute forward with a do-pass recommendation; members did not record roll-call votes on the record provided.