Building Codes Bill Championed by NAHB Introduced in House
Reps. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) and Dina Titus (D-Nev.) have introduced NAHB-supported legislation that would help jurisdictions preserve local control over the building code adoption process while also encouraging communities to take positive steps to withstand and recover from extreme events.
“NAHB commends Reps. Edwards and Titus for introducing the Promoting Resilient Buildings Act,” said NAHB Chairman Carl Harris. “Edwards championed this legislation in the 118th Congress because he opposes needless regulatory mandates that raise housing costs. By preserving local control over the code adoption process, this legislation will reduce housing costs and help builders build more homes.”
The Promoting Resilient Buildings Act addresses an issue that has become a serious concern for local governments and home builders across the country.
In 2018, the Disaster Recovery Reform Act’s pre-disaster hazard mitigation program defined “latest published editions” of building codes to include the latest two published editions of relevant codes, specifications and standards. This definition sunset in October 2023, but this legislation would remove the sunset, permanently codifying the current definition of “latest published editions” for the pre-disaster hazard mitigation program.
Without a definition of “latest published editions” for this program, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will only consider whether a jurisdiction has adopted the very latest editions of building codes. This will put jurisdictions in a difficult position, pressuring the adoption of the very latest building codes without a thorough vetting and amendment process, resulting in costly code changes that do not contribute to meaningful safety and resiliency improvements.
This legislation passed the House in the 118th Congress and was approved by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs but was never approved by the full Senate.
The early reintroduction of this legislation in the new congressional session signals that lawmakers are prioritizing this important bill. NAHB is committed to working closely with the House to ensure its passage and will also focus on advancing companion legislation in the Senate.
Latest from NAHBNow
A full-scale reinvention of a dated, luxury home is well underway for The New American Remodel 2027. Much of the recent work has focused on changes that won't be visible once the project is finished but are critical to its lofty, high-performance goals.
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act includes nine provisions designed to strengthen small financial institutions, including community banks, by easing regulatory burdens, reducing funding costs, and encouraging the creation of new banks.
Latest Economic News
Single-family built-for-rent (SFBFR, or built-to-rent (BTR)) construction fell back in the second quarter of 2026, as a higher cost of financing, increased multifamily supply and policy concerns over Congressional legislation related to institutional capital froze parts of the development market.
Second quarter 2026 data reveal softer conditions for townhouse construction as housing affordability challenges affect homebuyer demand, particularly in larger metropolitan markets.
With overall single-family construction down almost 7% for the first seven months of 2026, custom home building has been a relative bright spot for the residential construction industry.