An Act promoting climate safe buildings

SD 117 establishes a State Board of Building Regulations and Standards to develop a statewide building code that requires climate resilience and energy efficiency in new construction. The bill mandates that building standards address climate risks like flooding, extreme weather, and sea-level rise using science-based floodplain maps and historical data. Local towns and cities can adopt "expanded floodplain maps" (beyond federal FEMA maps) to determine flood risks and enforce flood-resistant building requirements. The bill also directs the board to eliminate outdated regulations that increase construction costs without improving climate resilience or public safety.