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SF 595

A bill for an act related to the regulation of construction, including state building codes, contractor licensing, and stormwater management requirements.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Requires housing affordability analysis in state building code rulemaking and reports cost impact to homes, while restricting local contractor licensing fees and post-approval stor

Subcommittee Meeting: 01/28/2026 12:00PM Room 217 Conference Room (Cancelled).
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Bill Summary · SF 595

Summary — SF 595 (as amended, S‑3049)

Status: Introduced March 10, 2025; passed the Senate March 25, 2025 (37–12); amendment S‑3049 adopted March 25; committee recommended passage April 1; rereferred to Local Government May 15, 2025.

Purpose

SF 595 addresses regulation of construction by (1) adding requirements for rulemaking that affects the state building code, (2) restricting certain local licensing fees for contractors and subcontractors, and (3) limiting local governments’ ability to impose post‑approval changes to stormwater management methods at construction sites. The bill emphasizes consideration of housing affordability in state code rulemaking and narrows some local regulatory authority, subject to state and federal law exceptions.

Key provisions

  • State building code rulemaking

    • Requires the State Building Code Commissioner to consider housing affordability when proposing rules that affect the state building code.
    • Requires the commissioner to submit a public report to the Administrative Rules Review Committee estimating the increase or decrease in construction costs to single‑family and multi‑family homes resulting from the proposed rule.

  • Local contractor licensing and fees

    • Prohibits counties and cities from imposing a licensing fee or charge on a “general contractor” or a “subcontractor” (definitions for both are provided in the bill).
    • Maintains existing allowance for local permit and inspection fees (i.e., localities may continue to charge fees for permits and inspections performed in their jurisdiction).
    • Adds the qualifier “unless otherwise required by state or federal law,” preserving applicable higher‑level legal requirements.

  • Stormwater management at construction sites

    • Amends county (Code §331.301) and city (Code §364.3) authority to prohibit adoption or enforcement of ordinances, resolutions, or other measures that require stormwater management improvements or methods more restrictive than those required as part of the locality’s initial review and approval of a subdivision plat, lot, or parcel (per §354.8), except where required by state or federal law.
    • Allows counties and cities to develop standards to evaluate stormwater management both before and after construction and to ensure compliance with state and federal requirements.

Who is affected

  • General contractors and subcontractors: reduced susceptibility to local licensing fees or charges.
  • Counties and cities: constrained in imposing post‑approval changes to stormwater controls and limited ability to levy licensing charges on contractors (subject to state/federal law exceptions); may still charge permit/inspection fees.
  • State building code rulemaking process: adds housing affordability analysis and cost‑impact reporting requirements.
  • Homebuilders and homebuyers: potential indirect effects on construction costs and housing affordability due to new rulemaking requirements.

Procedural notes

  • Statutory references amended include Code §331.301(25)(c) and §364.3(19)(c); the bill references §354.8 for subdivision approval standards.
  • The text explicitly preserves compliance with any contrary state or federal requirements by inserting “unless otherwise required by state or federal law.”

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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