Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island Senate Bill S0855 Latest Draft

Bill / Comm Sub Version Filed 06/15/2023

                             
 
 
 
2023 -- S 0855 SUBSTITUTE A 
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LC002306/SUB A 
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S TATE  OF RHODE IS LAND 
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023 
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A N   A C T 
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE 
Introduced By: Senator Victoria Gu 
Date Introduced: March 30, 2023 
Referred To: Senate Commerce 
 
 
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: 
SECTION 1. Section 23-27.3-100.1.5.4 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-27.3 entitled 1 
"State Building Code" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2 
23-27.3-100.1.5.4. State energy conservation code. 3 
(a) The state building code standards committee ("committee") shall adopt, an energy 4 
conservation code, which shall be based on appropriate nationally and internationally recognized 5 
models, and shall promulgate and administer the energy conservation code. The energy 6 
conservation code shall contain provisions pertaining to, but not limited to, the construction of 7 
buildings, the use of renewable energy resources in buildings, the efficient use of energy within 8 
buildings, and the orientation of buildings on their sites. The state energy conservation code shall 9 
at a minimum: 10 
(1) For residential or commercial buildings, meet or exceed the most recently published 11 
International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), or achieve equivalent or greater energy savings. 12 
The state building code standards committee shall revise the state energy conservation code to 13 
comply with this requirement within one year of any update to the International Energy 14 
Conservation Code; provided, however, that the 2021 IECC published by the International Code 15 
Council shall not be adopted and the 2024 IECC published by the International Code Council shall 16 
be adopted within (3) three months of its release. 17 
(2) For commercial buildings, meet or exceed the ANSI/ASHRAE/IESN A Standard 90.1-18 
2007, or achieve equivalent or greater energy savings. 19   
 
 
LC002306/SUB A - Page 2 of 3 
Within one year of the release of the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code, the 1 
state building code standards committee shall revise the state energy conservation code to meet or 2 
exceed the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code's electric readiness provisions.  3 
(b) No later than six (6) months after the adoption of the building code(s) described in 4 
subsection (a) of this section, The the state building code standards committee shall develop a plan 5 
to achieve compliance with the building code(s) described in subdivisions (1) and (2) no later than 6 
February 17, 2017 described in subsection (a) of this section in at least ninety percent (90%) of new 7 
and renovated residential and commercial building space in the state. Such plan shall include active 8 
training and enforcement programs and measurement of the rate of compliance each year. 9 
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 10 
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LC002306/SUB A 
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LC002306/SUB A - Page 3 of 3 
EXPLANATION 
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 
OF 
A N   A C T 
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE 
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This act would require the state building code standards committee to revise the state 1 
energy conservation code to meet or exceed the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code 2 
electric readiness provisions.  3 
This act would take effect upon passage. 4 
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