State Association Update

Two Critical State Agency Rulemakings in Front of Home Building Industry

The Oregon Home Builders Association (your state association) is engaged in two critical state agency rulemaking areas with potential significant impacts to our members. These areas include new building code changes and new infectious disease rules from Oregon OSHA. We’ll discuss OSHA rulemaking that is scheduled to go into effect in mid-September more actively in a future issue so we can update you with new codes that are currently under review. Last year the state Building Codes Division announced that new codes were to be adopted October 1, 2020. Since that announcement, Governor Brown adopted a new Executive Order asking for 60% greater energy efficiency from 2006 levels in all buildings. OHBA successfully sought delay of the new codes from October 2020 to April 2021 to allow builders more time to study the impacts of these new codes and look for opportunities to reduce the burden and cost to Oregon citizens. We also added builder and technical expertise to our staff to effectively engage on these significant new codes. Just one example of new codes is a proposal to require all homes to be specifically designed for future solar installation in addition to simple pre-wire capacity. You will read more about these details in a following article. However, builders should know that there is a concerted effort to make substantive changes to how residential and commercial STATE ASSOCIATION UPDATE Mark Long, CEO

buildings are constructed through an expedited process in the middle of a pandemic. The voice at the table regarding building codes decisions for controlling cost, maintaining consumer choices and advocating for affordability comes from our OHBA Government Affairs team - Oregon consumers aren’t at the table while these new regulations are being discussed. To that end, the state association is doing everything it can to make sure regulators understand the practical, technical and economic impacts of these new building code proposals. Our team is available to answer questions and make sure your voice is heard. Please contact myself (mark@oregonhba.com), Mike Goodrich mgoodrich@oregonhba.com, or Rex Turner rex@oregonhba.com with any questions you may have. Remember: Stay Open. Stay Smart. Stay OHBA!

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