Georgia Department of Community Affairs; refrain from adopting the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code for residential construction; urge
Summary
House Resolution 1792 is a nonbinding resolution urging the Georgia Department of Community Affairs not to adopt the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for residential construction. Instead, it encourages the state to continue using the 2015 IECC with Georgia amendments as the statewide energy code. The resolution frames this as a housing-affordability issue, arguing that new code requirements would add significant construction costs and make homeownership less attainable for Georgia households.
The resolution does not change statutory law directly, but it seeks to influence administrative rulemaking by the Department of Community Affairs and the State Codes Advisory Committee. Its practical effect would be to preserve the current residential energy code framework and avoid additional energy-efficiency mandates that supporters believe would raise home prices. The measure is aimed at residential builders, homebuyers, and state code officials involved in energy-code adoption.
Impact
HR 1792 would not amend the Georgia Code or create enforceable legal requirements; it is a legislative expression of intent and policy preference. Its impact would be on state administrative policy, specifically the Department of Community Affairs’ decision whether to adopt the 2024 IECC for residential construction. If followed, the resolution would maintain the 2015 IECC with Georgia amendments as the statewide residential energy code, affecting builders, developers, and homeowners by preserving the existing compliance standards and avoiding the cost of new code provisions.
Sentiment
The overall sentiment reflected in the resolution is strongly opposed to adopting the 2024 IECC for residential construction. Supporters present the measure as a pro-housing-affordability and anti-cost-increase position, emphasizing that Georgia is facing a housing affordability crisis and that additional mandates could price out households. No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no recorded opposing testimony or formal vote sentiment in the available materials.
Contention
The main point of contention is the tradeoff between energy efficiency and housing affordability. Supporters of the resolution argue that the 2024 IECC would impose unnecessary regulatory costs and increase home prices by thousands of dollars per unit, while opponents would likely favor stronger energy-efficiency standards for long-term utility savings and environmental benefits. The dispute centers on whether Georgia should prioritize lower upfront construction costs or more stringent energy conservation requirements in residential building codes.
Department of Community Affairs; to refrain from adopting the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code in order to protect housing affordability and maintain the current energy code framework of this state; urge
Establish a moratorium on changes to the state energy conservation code from the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code until January 1, 2030, unless approved by the legislature and made effective by the governor.
Establish a moratorium on changes to the state energy conservation code from the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code until January 1, 2030, unless approved by the legislature and made effective by the governor.
Amends the state building code and would require that the state adopt the 2024 International Residential Code and prohibit the state building committee from adopting amendments for one to four residential dwelling units until 2030.
Amends the state building code and would require that the state adopt the 2024 International Residential Code and prohibit the state building committee from adopting amendments for one to four residential dwelling units until 2030.
Establishes a moratorium on changes to the state energy conservation code from the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code until January 1, 2031, unless approved by the legislature and made effective by the governor.
Establishes a moratorium on changes to the state energy conservation code from the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code until January 1, 2031, unless approved by the legislature and made effective by the governor.