Committee advances amendment to bar municipal sprinkler mandates for certain townhouses

The Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development voted to recommend House Bill 2739 favorably as amended after adopting multiple changes that narrow the bill’s scope and add exceptions.

The revisor, Charles Reimer, told the committee the amendment replaces references to “multifamily dwellings” with a statutory definition of “townhouse” that applies to attached single-family units of four or fewer that generally do not exceed three stories. The amendment limits the bill’s new section to construction projects approved by the local authority after 07/01/2026 and preserves other applicable code requirements, Reimer said.

The amendment also specifies that a townhouse unit must either have separation by a two-hour fire-resistive wall assembly or a one-hour rated wall assembly plus a multipurpose residential fire-protection sprinkler system in certain cases. Reimer said the amendment removes an existing statutory definition (cited in the transcript) from the bill text so the statutory definition remains unchanged in law regardless of passage.

Representative Wilcott and others asked whether the townhouse definition requires two separate walls or a two-hour firewall; Reimer and the chair answered that the amendment supplies a statutory definition describing attached units and the two-hour separation approach. Representative Wasser pressed whether the change applies to current buildings; Reimer clarified the language applies to projects approved on or after July 1, 2026, so it is limited to new construction or projects that require new construction approval by local authorities.

Representative Melton said she would vote no on the measure, stating, “I won't trade public safety, safety for profit.” The committee nevertheless adopted the amendment by voice vote and later voted to recommend H.B. 2739 favorably for passage as amended. Vice Chair Ward moved the committee recommendation; the motion was seconded (the record shows inconsistent transcriptions of the seconding member’s name) and the motion passed. Representative Melton asked that her no vote be recorded.

Why it matters: The amendment narrows the bill so its prohibition on municipal sprinkler requirements targets a defined class of townhouses built after a set date, rather than applying broadly to multifamily housing. Supporters framed the change as reducing regulatory costs for certain builders while keeping safety options where required by the amendment’s separation-and-sprinkler rules; opponents warned of potential public-safety impacts.

What’s next: The committee recommended the bill favorably as amended with 'grace to the reviser,' meaning the reviser may correct style and technical errors before transmittal. The committee adjourned and the bill will proceed in the legislative process per chamber rules.