One of the Florida Home Builders Association’s member-identified Top Legislative Priorities is to prevent ill-conceived, costly mandates like mandatory residential fire sprinklers. Last week the Senate Regulated industries Committee unanimously voted to support SB 846 by Sen. Mike Bennett (R-Bradenton) achieving this goal. The issue is in the forefront of lawmakers because in 2009, the International Code Congress (ICC) adopted a mandate that automatic fire sprinklers must be installed in all new one- and two-family dwellings effective January 2011. Unless lawmakers take action this session to prohibit this mandate, the Florida Building Commission will be forced to include it in the 2010 Florida Building Code. A companion bill (HB 7095 by Rep. Robert Schenck) received a favorable hearing earlier this month. Both bills will proceed for additional hearings. The next likely opportunity for the Senate bill to be heard will be during FHBA’s Spring Legislative Conference in Tallahassee.
Signed Into Law
With the passage of SB 846 by Sen. Mike Bennett (R-Bradenton), the installation of mandatory residential fire sprinklers in one- and two-family dwellings will not be added to the Florida Building Code. Without the passage of this good bill, the Florida Building Commission would have been forced to include mandatory residential fire sprinklers in the 2010 Florida Building Code because of a directive from the International Code Congress. Florida is one of more than 20 states that filed legislation to block this mandate. Special thanks to Rep. Robert Schenck (R-Spring Hill) for sponsoring the House companion legislation.
Week of April 19: Legislation prevention the adoption of mandatory residential fire sprinklers into the Florida Building Code is progressing nicely. SB 846 by Sen. Mike Bennett (R-Bradenton) passed the Senate and was sent to the House of Representatives. HB 7095 by Rep. Robert Schenck (R-Spring Hill) is on the House Special Order Calendar. Additionally, the fire sprinkler prohibition measure was amended onto HB 663 by Rep. Gary Aubuchon (R-Cape Coral) and is on third reading in the House and expected to be heard for the final Monday, April 26.
Week of April 12: Legislation preventing the adoption of mandatory residential fire sprinklers into the Florida Building Code passed its final Senate committee last week. SB 846 by Sen. Mike Bennett (R-Bradenton) passed out of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee and is now ready to be heard by the full Senate. House companion legislation, HB 7095 by Rep. Robert Schenck (R-Spring Hill), is steadily moving through the full House and poised for passage.
Week of April 5: Legislation preventing the adoption of mandatory residential fire sprinklers into the Florida Building Code unanimously passed a House and Senate committee. HB 7095 by Rep. Robert Schenck (R-Spring Hill) passed out of its last committee stop, and is now poised to be heard by the full House of Representatives. SB 846 by Sen. Mike Bennett (R-Bradenton) passed out of the Senate Community Affairs Committee and will be heard this Tuesday in Senate Banking and Insurance – the last committee stop necessary before proceeding to the full Senate.
Week of March 1: The House Governmental Affairs Policy Committee voted unanimously in support of a bill that would prohibit mandatory fire sprinklers from being installed in new one- and two-family dwellings. Bill sponsor Rep. Robert Schenck (R-Spring Hill) said he didn’t believe the state should be “putting another burden” on future homebuyers. Preventing ill-conceived, costly mandates like residential fire sprinklers is one of the Florida Home Builders Association’s 2010 Legislative Priorities. The issue is in the forefront of lawmakers because in 2009, the International Code Congress (ICC) adopted a mandate that automatic fire sprinklers must be installed in all new one- and two-family dwellings effective January 2011. Unless lawmakers take action this session to prohibit this mandate, the Florida Building Commission will be forced to include it in the 2010 Florida Building Code. PCB GAP 10-22 will now travel to be heard before additional committees.