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S2632Aaa
2026 -- S 2632 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED
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LC004996/SUB A
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE
Introduced By:
Senators Ciccone, and Tikoian
Date Introduced:
February 13, 2026
Referred To:
Senate Housing & Municipal Government
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 23-27.3-100.1.5 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-27.3 entitled
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"State Building Code" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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23-27.3-100.1.5. Building code — Adoption and promulgation by committee.
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(a) The state building code standards committee has the authority to adopt, promulgate,
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and administer a state building code, which shall include:
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(1) Provisions and amendments as necessary
including, but not limited to, those necessary
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to resolve conflicts between fire safety codes and building codes, as provided for in § 23-28.01-6;
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and
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(2) A rehabilitation building and fire code for existing buildings and structures.
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(b) The building code may be promulgated in several sections, with a section applicable
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to:
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(1) One-
,
and
two (2)
-, three (3)-, and four (4)
-family dwellings using the International
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Residential Code
("IRC")
from the International Code Council (“ICC”)
, and to three (3) family
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dwelling units either using the IRC or by providing the same via an appendix to the Commercial
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International Building Code (“IBC”),
and any amendments thereto adopted by the state building
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code standards committee;
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(2) To multiple dwellings with more than
four (4)
three (3)
residential units, and hotels and
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motels and other commercial structures using the Commercial International Building Code
("IBC")
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from the ICC and any amendments thereto adopted by the state building code standards committee;
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(3) An energy conservation code using the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
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and any amendments thereto adopted by the state building code standards committee;
and
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(3)
(4)
To general building construction; to plumbing; and to electrical.
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(c) The building code shall incorporate minimum standards for the location, design,
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construction, and installation of wells that are appurtenances to a building in applicable sections.
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For purposes of this chapter, “appurtenance” includes the installation, alteration, or repair of wells
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connected to a structure consistent with chapter 13.2 of title 46.
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(d) The building code and the sections thereof shall be reasonably consistent with
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recognized and accepted standards adopted by national model code organizations and recognized
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authorities. To the extent that any state or local building codes, statutes, or ordinances are
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inconsistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title III, Public Accommodations and
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Services Operated by Private Entities, 42 U.S.C. § 12181 et seq., and its regulations and standards,
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they are hereby repealed. The state building code standards committee is hereby directed to adopt
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rules and regulations consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Titles II and III (28
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C.F.R. Part 35 and 28 C.F.R. Part 36, as amended), as soon as possible, but no later than February
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15, 2012, to take effect on or before March 15, 2012. The state building code standards committee
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is hereby authorized and directed to update those rules and regulations consistent with the future
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revisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Standards.
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(e) All electrical work done in the state shall be in accordance with the latest edition of the
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National Electrical Code (NEC). The state building code standards committee shall adopt the latest
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edition of the NEC, including any amendments to the NEC by the committee. The adoption of the
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NEC by the commission shall be completed so that it will take effect on the first day of July of the
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year the edition is dated.
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(f) The 2024 IRC, including any amendments thereto adopted by the building code
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standards committee (“BCSC”), shall take effect for one to three (3) family dwelling units not later
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than January 1, 2027; provided that, for three (3) family dwelling units the BCSC may provide for
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the same results via an appendix to the IBC. The revisions adopting the 2024 IRC and any other
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2024 ICC codes, as well as the 2026 National Electric Code (NEC) published by the National Fire
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Protection Association (NFPA), including any amendments thereto adopted by the BCSC, shall be
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exempt from the provisions of §§ 42-35-2.9(b), 42-35.1-3, and 42-35.1-4.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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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 adopt the 2024 International Residential Code for one to three (3) family
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dwelling units by January 1, 2027, establish a moratorium on changes to the state building codes
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applicable to residential structures of one to three (3) family dwelling units until January 1, 2031,
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unless approved by the legislature and made effective by the governor, and to provide for uniform
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procedures for the adoption and amendment of the state building code by the state building code
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standards committee.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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