In the final weeks of the 2015 legislative session, Gov. Jay Inslee signed into law legislation aimed at controlling construction costs in Ferry, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties.

Currently, there are two designated climate zones in Washington, delineated between the western and eastern parts of the state.  House Bill 1011 prevents Northeast Washington from being designated its own climate zone.

Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy and sponsor of the legislation, said it was important to make sure counties are not isolated when adopting building code rules.

“If we were to allow the Washington State Building Code Council to segment counties into different or unique climate zones when determining codes, rules and procedures, our local building costs would go up substantially,” said Short. “Our local builders would have to buy special-order materials and follow procedures that, according to testimony we heard in committee, could increase building costs for our region by several thousands of dollars per house.”

Short’s bill passed both the House and Senate unanimously earlier in the session and was recently signed by the governor.  It goes into effect 90 days after the end of the 2015 regular session.

For more information about Rep. Short, visit: www.representativeshellyshort.com.

###

Rep. Short’s media:
       
Washington State House Republican Communications
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov
461 John L. O’Brien Building
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600