HR 1792: Georgia Department of Community Affairs; refrain from adopting the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code for residential construction; urge

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs is deciding whether to adopt the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code, a model set of building rules aimed at making new homes more energy efficient. This resolution does not change any law itself; it is a formal statement from House members expressing their position on that decision. The resolution asks the department to refrain from adopting the 2024 code, citing concerns that it would raise construction costs by thousands of dollars per home and that each $1,000 increase in home prices could price more than 5,000 Georgia households out of the housing market. It instead encourages the department to keep using the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code with Georgia's amendments. The Clerk of the House is directed to send copies to the commissioner of community affairs and to the leaders of the State Codes Advisory Committee.

• Urges the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to refrain from adopting the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code for residential construction.
• Encourages the department to keep using the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code with Georgia amendments as the statewide energy code.
• Directs the Clerk of the House to send copies of the resolution to the commissioner of community affairs and to the chairperson and vice chairperson of the State Codes Advisory Committee.
• Does not itself change any Georgia statute or building code; it states the House's position for the department to consider.

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the State Codes Advisory Committee, which decide which energy code applies statewide, along with home builders, developers, and prospective homebuyers who would face different construction costs and energy standards depending on which code is in effect.

Which energy code Georgia adopts affects how much new homes cost to build and how energy efficient they are. This resolution signals House opposition to a stricter, newer code, which could influence the department's decision and, in turn, home construction costs and home prices statewide.

• First resolving clause urges the Department of Community Affairs to refrain from adopting the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code for residential construction.
• Second resolving clause encourages continued use of the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code with Georgia amendments to balance energy efficiency and affordability.
• Final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the commissioner of community affairs and to the State Codes Advisory Committee's chairperson and vice chairperson.

1. 2026-03-25House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
2. 2026-03-23House Second Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-20House First Readers (House)
4. 2026-03-19House Hopper (House)

• Lehman Franklin (R, HD-160)Primary sponsor
• Houston Gaines (R, HD-120)
• Will Wade (R, HD-009)
• Matthew Gambill (R, HD-015)
• Rob Leverett (R, HD-123)
• Bruce Williamson (R, HD-112)

• energy code
• housing affordability
• building codes
• construction costs
• Department of Community Affairs