Senate passes revised government building regulation bill after FEMA concerns removed

The Utah Senate approved House Bill 1,003, Government Building Regulation Amendments, returning a modified version of a regular-session measure that the governor previously vetoed after FEMA raised federal concerns.

Senator Bridal, the sponsor on the floor, said the earlier regular-session bill (HB 98) reached the governor but was vetoed after FEMA flagged issues. The version presented in the special session "strips any of the FEMA concerns out" and clarifies what is required for a building permit application while prohibiting municipalities or counties from regulating certain building design elements.

Bridal said the revised bill "cleans up what the requirements are for a building permit application, and it prohibits a municipality or county from regulating certain building design elements," and indicated the floor debate in the special session did not surface new opposition.

The Senate conducted a roll-call vote; the president announced HB 1,003 had received 20 yay votes, six nay votes and three absent, and that the bill will be signed by the president and returned to the House for the speaker's signature.

Action and next steps: HB 1,003 passed the Senate and will be returned to the House for signature steps. The Senate record notes the modified language intends to address FEMA concerns previously cited when the earlier bill was vetoed.