--- title: SR 882. Department of Community Affairs; to refrain from adopting the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code in order to protect housing affordability and maintain the current energy code framework of this state; urge collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr882 cite_as: SR 882, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr882 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr882.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr882/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73733 date: 2026-03-31 status: introduced corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr881.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr883.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 451 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr882.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 882 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-02-26 last_action: Senate Tabled sponsors: - Randy Robertson - Max Burns - Kay Kirkpatrick - Chuck Payne - Marty Harbin - Matt Brass - John Albers - Billy Hickman - Lee Anderson - Drew Echols - Shawn Still - Clint Dixon - Sam Watson - Russ Goodman - Steve Gooch - Jason Anavitarte - Jason T. Dickerson - Mike Hodges - Steven McNeel - Timothy Bearden - Chuck Hufstetler - Carden Summers text_version: Comm Sub has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR882/2025 upstream_id: 2125922 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - housing affordability - energy codes - home construction - Department of Community Affairs --- # SR 882. Department of Community Affairs; to refrain from adopting the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code in order to protect housing affordability and maintain the current energy code framework of this state; urge ## Text The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism offered the following substitute to SR 882: A RESOLUTION Urging the Department of Community Affairs to refrain from adopting the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code in order to protect housing affordability and maintain the current energy code framework of this state; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, access to safe, decent, and affordable housing is essential to economic stability and the quality of life of the citizens of this state; and WHEREAS, the State of Georgia is currently experiencing significant housing affordability challenges, with rising construction costs contributing to increased home prices and reduced home ownership opportunities; and WHEREAS, the Department of Community Affairs is considering adoption of the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code, which would impose new regulations affecting residential construction across the state; and WHEREAS, Georgia's current energy code, the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code with Georgia amendments, reflects a balance between energy efficiency and affordability appropriate for Georgia's climate; and WHEREAS, cost modeling for Georgia indicates that adoption of the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code would increase construction costs by thousands of dollars per home; and WHEREAS, for every $1,000 increase in the price of a home more than 5,000 citizens of this state are priced out of the housing market, leading to compounded concerns about housing affordability; and WHEREAS, Georgia's existing energy code aligns with or exceeds many neighboring states and allows for energy-conscious construction without imposing excessive costs; and WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the citizens of this state to avoid unnecessary regulations that increase housing costs during a time of significant affordability challenges. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body urge the Department of Community Affairs to refrain from adopting the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code for residential construction and continue to use the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the commissioner of community affairs and to the chairpersons of the State Codes Advisory Committee. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia Senate resolution urges the Department of Community Affairs not to adopt the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code and instead keep using the state's current 2015 version for home construction. ### Plain-language summary This is a resolution, not a binding law: it expresses the Senate's opinion rather than changing any statute. It responds to the Department of Community Affairs considering whether to adopt the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code, a set of national model standards for energy efficiency in buildings, for residential construction in Georgia. The resolution states that Georgia currently uses the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code with Georgia amendments and argues that switching to the 2024 version would raise home construction costs by thousands of dollars per house, pricing more residents out of homeownership. It formally urges the department to keep using the 2015 code instead of adopting the newer 2024 code. It also directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies of the resolution to the commissioner of community affairs and the chairpersons of the State Codes Advisory Committee. ### What it does - Formally urges the Department of Community Affairs to not adopt the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code for residential construction. - Urges the department to continue using the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code with Georgia amendments instead. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to send copies of the resolution to the commissioner of community affairs and the chairpersons of the State Codes Advisory Committee. - States the Senate's position that adopting the newer code would raise home construction costs and reduce housing affordability, without itself changing any law. ### Who it affects The Department of Community Affairs and the State Codes Advisory Committee, which set energy construction standards; home builders and developers who must follow the energy code; and prospective homebuyers and renters affected by construction costs and housing affordability across Georgia. ### Why it matters Because this is a resolution rather than a law, it does not itself block the department from adopting the new code, but it signals the Senate's opposition and could influence the department's decision, which would in turn affect construction costs and home prices statewide. ### Key provisions - The resolution recites housing affordability concerns and rising construction costs as background for its position. - It states that adopting the 2024 code would increase construction costs by thousands of dollars per home. - It resolves that the Senate urges the Department of Community Affairs to refrain from adopting the 2024 code and continue using the 2015 code. - It directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies to the commissioner of community affairs and State Codes Advisory Committee chairpersons. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2026-02-26) - Last action: Senate Tabled (2026-03-31) - Sponsors: Randy Robertson, Max Burns, Kay Kirkpatrick, Chuck Payne, Marty Harbin, Matt Brass, John Albers, Billy Hickman, Lee Anderson, Drew Echols, Shawn Still, Clint Dixon, Sam Watson, Russ Goodman, Steve Gooch, Jason Anavitarte, Jason T. Dickerson, Mike Hodges, Steven McNeel, Timothy Bearden, Chuck Hufstetler, Carden Summers - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/73733 > The history, votes, and amendments (451 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr882.md?full=1