Senate approves expansion of building code board to add fire engineer and multifamily expert
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Summary
Senate Bill 49A passed to add two seats to the Building Codes Structures Board — a fire protection engineer and a professional with multifamily housing experience — as part of a housing-policy push; one senator voiced concern about expanding the board and local control.
The Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 49A, which expands the Building Codes Structures Board by two members: a fire protection engineer and someone with experience building or designing multifamily housing.
Senator Pham, the bill sponsor, said the additions will give state policymakers more access to expertise as part of efforts to spur housing growth across Oregon. “Ensuring that professionals with expert expertise building multifamily housing are provided ample opportunities to weigh in and shape state policy ... is a step in that direction,” Pham said.
Senator Robinson said she supported the additions in principle but opposed the expansion of the board for reasons of local control. “I don't really like expanding the board,” Robinson said on the floor.
The clerk recorded final passage; the chamber noted a constitutional majority and the measure was declared passed with the clerk recording 27 ayes.