A single thread runs through nearly every story about codes and standards from the past month: Cost. Who pays for safer buildings, cleaner energy and better construction practices? How much should a code add to the price of a new home? And when do safety standards cross the line from protection into barrier?
These questions have arisen at every level of government. The Department of Housing & Urban Development has rolled back a federal energy code mandate. Iowa lawmakers moved to weaken residential electrical requirements. New York City added mental health training to construction site safety requirements. The International Code Council continued to push Congress on the Pro Codes Act while also advancing modular construction standards that could lower housing costs.
Here is a breakdown of the most notable developments from mid-April through early May.
HUD and USDA rescind the 2021 IECC mandate
In late April, HUD Secretary Scott Turner announced that the agencies would rescind a 2024 rule requiring new homes financed through the Federal Housing Administration and USDA loans to comply with the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code. The decision follows a court ruling from the Eastern District of Texas and months of industry pushback.
Federal estimates put the compliance cost at between $20,000 and $31,000 per home. Turner called the rule “onerous” and said the rescission removes a significant regulatory barrier to homeownership. Some industry observers say the rollback will make it easier for builders to deliver housing at attainable prices.
The move does not eliminate energy efficiency requirements entirely. FHA and USDA programs will revert to the standards that were in effect before the 2024 determination. But for energy code advocates, the rescission signals a shift in federal posture. The 2021 IECC has been adopted by only a handful of states, and the affordability argument against it is now backed by executive action and case law.
ICC presses forward on Pro Codes Act, housing and BRIC
The International Code Council has had a busy month. It kicked off May with the 46th annual Building Safety Month under the theme “Built to Last.” The four-week campaign covers home safety, building safety professionals, disaster preparedness and accessibility in design. ICC Board President Mike Boso framed the campaign around the growing frequency of extreme weather events and evolving community needs.
ICC is also seeing momentum for the Pro Codes Act after a hearing before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and Artificial Intelligence.
“Most of the subcommittee members present agreed that the Pro Codes Act, or some form of legislation, is necessary due to the conflicting opinions in case law and the need for legislative action to address the copyright issues surrounding codes and standards incorporated by reference,” said Aaron Levy, deputy senior vice president of federal relations at ICC.
ICC co-leads a coalition of more than 20 standards development organizations supporting the bill, which would preserve copyright protections for standards referenced by federal, state and local agencies while ensuring the public can view them online. Levy stressed that this effort is not about promoting one code over another.
“This bill is really about copyright protection and striking that balance between copyright protection and ensuring individual Americans have the ability to see and view the codes and standards which their communities incorporate by reference,” he said.
Separately, ICC applauded the Trump administration for restarting FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program. The BRIC grant now includes about $81 million set aside for state and tribal governments to update, modernize and digitize their building codes.
ICC is also actively engaging Congress and HUD on how its modular and manufactured housing standards could help address the national housing shortage. Levy pointed to the ICC 1200 series of standards, co-developed with the Modular Building Institute, as a solution set that gives builders and communities a shared baseline.
“My message to the contracting and engineering community is, please go check out our 1200 series of standards,” he said. ICC has opened a call for committee members to develop the second editions of ICC/MBI 1200, 1205 and 1210. The application deadline is May 15.
Iowa electrical code debate heats up
In Iowa, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association is urging Gov. Kim Reynolds to block a proposal that would loosen residential electrical requirements. The provision, tucked into a budget bill, would reduce the required setback for electrical outlets near bathtubs and showers and could remove ground-fault circuit interrupter requirements for kitchen counters.
State Rep. Jeff Cooling, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids and a licensed electrician, warned that the changes “would put you and your family and our constituents at risk.” Supporters framed the changes as a cost-reduction measure. Republican Rep. Jeff Webster said the proposal was vetted by electricians, homebuilders and the realtors, and that none of those groups want to build dangerous homes. Reynolds has until early June to sign or veto the bill.
New York makes moves on building safety and building codes
On May 3, Local Law 10 of 2026 took effect, requiring construction site safety training to include two credits focused on mental health and wellness, suicide risk and prevention, and alcohol and substance misuse. The law replaces the existing 2-Hour Drug and Alcohol Awareness course with a broader Mental Health Awareness module. Construction workers die by suicide at roughly four times the national average, and the law appears to be a direct response to that data.
Four days later, New York State’s updated Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code went into effect. Based on the 2024 International Building Code, the update applies statewide and brings the state in line with the latest model code cycle.
Concrete and structural standards advance
The American Concrete Institute’s latest edition of its flagship structural concrete code, ACI CODE-318-25, is expected to be adopted by the 2027 International Building Code. The update introduces a new sustainability appendix, a performance-based wind design appendix, revised requirements for post-installed reinforcing bars and enhanced provisions for shear friction and deep foundations.
The ACI Foundation is also seeking proposals to update ACI 347.3R-13, Guide to Formed Concrete Surfaces, with a focus on identifying technologies to quantitatively assess surface void ratio and color uniformity. Submissions are due June 15.
On the safety side, the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association has joined the American Concrete Pumping Association’s “We Are Safer Together” coalition. The partnership promotes awareness of ASME B30.27, the safety standard for concrete material placement systems. NRMCA Interim President Joe Roche said the updated standard provides clarity for ready mixed producers, and ACPA Executive Director Christi Collins said the goal is to ensure each trade understands its responsibilities on a pump jobsite.
The American Cement Alliance has also released a new information sheet on blended cements, providing guidance on how blended formulations align with current standards and performance requirements.
ASTM forms new committee on AI in manufacturing
ASTM International’s board of directors approved the creation of a new technical committee (F50) focused on artificial intelligence in manufacturing systems. The committee will develop frameworks, best practices and standards for how AI technologies are deployed in manufacturing environments. The inaugural meeting is set for June 3-4 during ASTM’s committee week in Dallas.
ASTM has also published a new suite of supply chain standards and introduced a new air quality standard for surface sample collection.
ISO publishes updated environmental management standard
ISO published the fourth edition of ISO 14001 in April, updating the world’s most widely used environmental management standard for the first time since 2015. The revision introduces stronger alignment with climate change, biodiversity and resource efficiency priorities. Organizations certified under the 2015 edition have until 2029 to complete the transition. More than 670,000 certified organizations worldwide use ISO 14001 to manage environmental responsibilities.
ASCE expands digital platform with new standards
ASCE expanded its AMPLIFY digital platform with seven new individual standards, including guidance on disproportionate collapse mitigation (ASCE/SEI 76-23), design loads during construction (ASCE/SEI 37-14) and pultruded FRP structures (ASCE/SEI 74-23). The platform also now includes the Eaves AI Assistant, which helps engineers locate, interpret and apply ASCE resources using responses grounded in primary ASCE sources.
Behind the scenes, committee work on ASCE 7-28 continues to accelerate, with Main Committee and Wind Task Committee meetings scheduled through the spring and summer.
Regional roundup
Colorado: The April 1 local adoption deadline for the state’s Wildfire Resiliency Code passed smoothly in most jurisdictions, but Green Mountain Falls delayed its vote until early May after a debate over whether the new requirements could push rebuild costs past insurance payouts. Full compliance is due July 1.
Worcester, Mass.: The city manager is seeking a pause on the Specialized Stretch Energy Code, citing affordability concerns. Worcester and Salem are the only two Gateway Cities to adopt the strictest version. A decision on the pause is expected in the coming weeks.
Washington, D.C.: The DC Council is weighing updates to the district’s building code as part of a broader review of construction standards and permitting processes.
Washington State: The Building Code Council delayed final adoption of the 2024 Washington State Building Codes until August 21, 2026. Public comment on Group 1 and 2 amendment petitions opened May 6.
If you sit on a code or standards committee and would like to have your work featured in the next CodeWatch, email Evan Milberg at [email protected]. For more news updates on the latest codes and standards shaping the built environment and energy sectors, sign up for one or more of SmartBrief’s infrastructure newsletters today.