AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- THE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW EFFICIENCY ACT

HB 7563, the Development Review Efficiency Act, allows property owners or their contractors to hire licensed architects, engineers, or building code administrators (called "independent providers") to review construction plans and perform building inspections instead of relying solely on local government staff. This directly affects developers, contractors, and property owners by potentially speeding up project approvals, as the bill requires local governments to reduce fees by the amount they save when using third-party reviews. Key safeguards include mandatory professional liability insurance ($1M-$4M coverage depending on project size), restrictions against providers having ownership stakes in projects, and a requirement that local governments issue occupancy certificates within 7 business days (or 3 days for single-family homes) after inspections are completed. The law aims to streamline development while maintaining safety standards through regulated third-party oversight.