HR1792: HR1792 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 energy efficiency standards for new buildings, to govern residential construction statewide. This resolution does not change any law itself; it formally expresses the General Assembly's position on that pending decision. The resolution states that Georgia currently uses the 2015 version of the code with state-specific amendments, and argues that switching to the 2024 version would raise construction costs by thousands of dollars per home, worsening housing affordability. It urges the department to refrain from adopting the 2024 code and instead continue using the 2015 code with Georgia amendments. It also directs the House Clerk to send copies of the resolution to the commissioner of community affairs and to the leaders of the State Codes Advisory Committee.

• Urges the Georgia Department of Community Affairs not to adopt 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 of Representatives 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.
• States the General Assembly's position without changing any statute, since a resolution like this carries no binding legal force.

The Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the State Codes Advisory Committee, which decide which energy code applies to residential construction; home builders and developers who must follow whichever code is adopted; and prospective homebuyers affected by construction costs and home prices statewide.

If the department follows the resolution's request, home construction costs and building requirements in Georgia would stay tied to the 2015 energy code rather than the newer 2024 standards, which the resolution says would add thousands of dollars to the cost of building a home.

• The resolution's whereas clauses assert that adopting the 2024 code would raise construction costs by thousands of dollars per home and price out households from homeownership.
• The first resolving clause urges the Department of Community Affairs to refrain from adopting the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code for residential construction.
• The second resolving clause encourages the department to continue using the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code with Georgia amendments statewide.
• The final clause directs the House Clerk to distribute copies to the commissioner of community affairs and the State Codes Advisory Committee leadership.

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)

• housing affordability
• building codes
• energy efficiency
• residential construction
• Department of Community Affairs