HB 150-RESIDENTIAL BUILDING CODE  3:56:21 PM CHAIR SUMNER announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 150, "An Act relating to residential building codes; relating to construction contractors and residential contractor endorsements; and providing for an effective date." 3:56:30 PM CHAIR SUMNER opened public testimony on HB 150. 3:56:50 PM ERIC VISSER, Past President, Alaska Home Builders Association, testified in support of HB 150. He said that establishing a statewide code has been a goal for a while and HB 150 is the best way to do that. He said the bill strikes a balance between personal freedom and regulation in the construction industry. He pointed out that HB 150 would establish an Alaska state building code council, which would be comprised of 11 public members, 6 of them being required to have residential endorsements. He said the council established by HB 150 would be the best way to review updates to national code, create local amendments, and prioritize safety and locality in the development of building codes. 3:58:45 PM REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS asked if it is possible to quantify what adoption of HB 150 would mean in terms of expenses to homes that meet building codes and homes that don't meet building codes. MR. VISSER answered that cost modeling is done at the national level and cited certain differences between 2020 building code and 2021 building code is a 5 percent increase in energy efficiency. He said that Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) would be the organization that would adopt any new codes established by HB 150. 4:00:02 PM REPRESENTATIVE SADDLER asked Mr. Visser to give a general overview of building codes in Alaska. MR. VISSER responded that there are no residential building codes. In response to follow-up questions, he advised that there is no state-adopted building code, which is what HB 150 would establish. He said a municipality can adopt their own building codes, but there is not yet currently a statewide code. He noted that the Municipality of Anchorage is currently operating under the 2018 International Residential Code (IRC). 4:02:22 PM DAVID BUNTS, President, Alaska Home Builders Association, testified in support of HB 150. He urged members to pass HB 150 and explained the history of residential code and contractor's requirements to operate in Alaska. He said HB 150 would protect the consumer and the contractor. 4:03:40 PM CHAIR SUMNER, after ascertaining there was no one else who wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 150. [HB 150 was held over.] 4:03:57 PM ADJOURNMENT  There being no further business before the committee, the House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee meeting was adjourned at 4:04 p.m.