Bill Text: TX HB871 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Relating to the residential and commercial building codes of municipalities.

Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2025-05-19 - Received from the House [HB871 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB871-Engrossed.html

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By: Reynolds, Morgan, Gates H.B. No. 871

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the residential and commercial building codes of
municipalities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 214.212, Local Government Code, is
amended by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (d) and adding
Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
(a) To protect the public health, safety, and welfare, the
International Residential Code, as it existed on May 1, 2018
[2012], is adopted as a municipal residential building code in this
state.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), the [The]
International Residential Code applies to all construction,
alteration, remodeling, enlargement, and repair of residential
structures in a municipality.
(b-1) To the extent the International Residential Code
applies to a building or structure on or used in connection with an
agricultural operation, the International Residential Code, as it
existed on May 1, 2012, applies to all construction, alteration,
remodeling, enlargement, and repair of those buildings or
structures.
(d) A municipality may review and consider amendments made
by the International Code Council to the International Residential
Code after May 1, 2018 [2012].
SECTION 2. Section 214.216, Local Government Code, is
amended by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (d) and adding
Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:
(a) To protect the public health, safety, and welfare, the
International Building Code, as it existed on May 1, 2018 [2012], is
adopted as a municipal commercial building code in this state.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), the [The]
International Building Code applies to all commercial buildings in
a municipality and to any alteration, remodeling, enlargement, or
repair of those commercial buildings.
(b-1) To the extent the International Building Code applies
to a building or structure on or used in connection with an
agricultural operation, the International Building Code, as it
existed on May 1, 2012, applies to all construction, alteration,
remodeling, enlargement, and repair of those buildings or
structures.
(d) A municipality may review and consider amendments made
by the International Code Council to the International Building
Code after May 1, 2018 [2012].
SECTION 3. (a) Sections 214.212 and 214.216, Local
Government Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to residential
or commercial construction, remodeling, alteration, enlargement,
or repair that begins under an agreement made on or after January 1,
2027, or that begins, in the absence of an agreement, on or after
that date. Residential or commercial construction, remodeling,
alteration, enlargement, or repair that begins under an agreement
made before January 1, 2027, or that begins, in the absence of an
agreement, before that date is governed by the law in effect when
the agreement was made or the activity began, as appropriate, and
that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
(b) Not later than December 1, 2026, municipalities shall
establish rules and take other necessary actions to implement
Sections 214.212 and 214.216, Local Government Code, as amended by
this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2026.