The Latest in Advocacy
Hurricane Helene
The General Assembly considered a couple of bills in the Senate Regulatory Reform Committee today. The first bill SB 266 would allow buildings in the affected area to be built back under building codes other than the current code. The measure was heard for discussion only, which means a vote was not taken on the measure. Senator Moffit admits that before the measure can be passed and used there would need to be an agreement with the Feds on floodplain regulations for rebuilding.
Another measure SB 602 would allow commercial buildings in the Helene affected areas to elect to reconstruct or repair the building with window assemblies having the same fire-protection rating that existed in the building as of September 27, 2024, without being required to upgrade to the current fire-resistant window 6 assemblies required by the State Building Code. The measure was passed by committee on a unanimous vote.
4-16-2025
Hurricane Helene
SB 266 resurfaced today in the Senate Regulatory Reform Committee. Sen. Moffitt has decided to move the bill through the General Assembly and ad an amendment that would only make it affective IF the federal government changes their regulations on building in floodplains.
Continuing Education Reform
SB 451 - Occupational Licensing Relief - Heard in Senate Regulatory Reform today, this bill would lower the number of annual hours, by half, many occupations need for fulfilling their continuing education requirements. Surprisingly, licensed architects were not named in this bill, while engineers, landscape architects and contractors, and dozens of other licensed professions were singled out for reduction in CE hours. The bill was scheduled for discussion only and a vote was not taken.
ADUs
HB 627 - House Bill 627 would require local governments to allow at least one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) for each single-family detached dwelling in areas zoned for residential use. The measure was heard in the House Housing & Development Committee today. It was passed to the House Regulatory Reform Committee.
Housing Affordability
HB 765 - An omnibus bill dealing with local government development regulations was heard in the House Housing & Development Committee today. House Bill 765 would make various changes to the land use regulation authority of local governments, including the following:
• Repeals the prohibition on down-zoning, retroactive to December 11, 2024.
• Clarifies the general authority to adopt and enforce development regulations.
• Clarifies nonconformities.
• Amends various aspects related to the process of implementing development regulations, including certain uses by right in certain jurisdictions, subdivision approvals and certain zoning approvals by administrative decision, and imposing a requirement for fiscal notes in certain instances.
• Imposes personal civil liability for each member of decision-making boards in certain instances related to development decisions and approvals.
• Requires every local governmental unit operating a water system, sewer system, or both to allocate capacity as requests are received, and establishes a vested right in that capacity allocation that runs with the land.
The bill garnered a lot of controversy, but was passed out of the committee.