House approves Senate-amended version of building codes bill, sends to governor

The House has voted unanimously in favor of HB 547a, the Senate-amended version of Rep. Joe Palmer’s bill to forbid local changes to building codes, which has been substantially softened. “They made some adjustments on it,” Palmer said, “basically clarifying. There was a lot of collaboration over there.” He said the Idaho associations of building contractors, cities, counties, and building officials “all weighed in on the bill. Not everybody got what they wanted.”

House Minority Leader Mat Erpelding, D-Boise, said, “The city of Boise was able to submit all of their amendments and they were all accepted, so I’m very excited to vote ‘yes’ for this bill.”

Rep. Steve Miller, R-Fairfield, asked if concerns he’d heard from communities in his district about being able to adjust building codes for local concerns like snow loads were addressed. “Absolutely,” Palmer responded, maintaining he thought that was allowed under the earlier version of the bill. “Now we’ve clarified it, and now it’s in there twice,” he said.

“Twice is always good,” Miller responded.

The House then approved the amended bill unanimously, 69-0. It now goes to Gov. Butch Otter.