proposed legislation and debate the merits in the hope of contributing to positive outcomes. Leading up to the 2026 session, the GAC tracked past legislation, trending issues and technical subject matter related to the built environment. We followed interim sessions closely and reached out to legislators and policy makers to engage the process early. We looked for potential pitfalls as well as opportunities to enrich our industry and as a result, our communities. All that effort led to this year’s “Beehive Brawl.” Full of energy and “floating like butterflies,” lawmakers started with their lists of draft bills that ultimately grew into over a thousand House and Senate bills and resolutions to be debated — the “sting of the bee.” A good portion of them faded away as the session progressed, but a majority of those bills survived the battle and became law in the state of Utah. The legislative process can feel like a never-ending bout, sometimes without gloves, but GAC came trained and well-conditioned. We’re fortunate to have an amazing group of architects, industry professionals, lobbyists and relationships that bolster our one-two punch. Our collective, and often behind the scenes, efforts delivered great results for our state, communities and industry this year. The GAC followed several key pieces of legislation throughout the session, including: • H.B. 41: Construction and Fire Code Amendments (Passed). Updates the IWUIC (Wildland/Urban Interface) code to the 2024 version. • H.B. 45: Fire Code Amendments (Passed). Updated the IFC to 2024 and NFPA 1 2024 (chapter 38) - Marijuana Growing, Processing, and Extraction Facilities. • H.B. 65: Construction Code Amendments (Passed). This is the critical update to the 2024 versions of the ICC suite of codes (though it is important to note that the Accessible standards (ICC A117.1-2009) did not change). • H.B. 298. School Design Amendments (Failed). This would have created a design library for K-12 schools but failed to pass out of committee. • H.B. 279: State Facilities Modifications (Passed). This bill provides a path for a public entity to request a contribution, sponsorship or other offering as part of a solicitation. We are extremely concerned about the possibility for abuse and/or misuse, but how this will be implemented remains to be seen. We will be keeping an eye on real-world application. • S.B. 164: School Construction Amendments (Passed). This was the most hotly contested and negotiated bill of the session. In its original form, it would have required school districts to use DFCM project management for all projects, but it ended up as more of a “may use” than a “shall use” bill. DFCM will still be dealing with an associated standards mandate, but other implementation remains to be seen. • S.B. 286: Interior Design Amendments (Passed). This changes the occupancy types that certified Interior Designers can work on. Formerly limited to B and M, this bill opens any occupancy type to certified IDs within the other codified limitations. The things they can do haven’t changed, but the project types have. This is a big change for certified designers but is limited to that segment of the profession. If you’re interested in perusing the other bills that passed, you can access them by scanning the QR code. https://le.utah.gov/asp/passedbills/ passedbills.asp?session=2026GS In addition to and in concert with our lobbying efforts, the GAC sponsored Legislative Day on the hill during the session with a tremendous turnout from both the professional and lawmaker sides of the ring. As a community of sorts, we were able to discuss the concerns and opportunities surrounding our industry, and even offer industry help in future endeavors. In the end, the legislature passed 541 bills and resolutions. While only a few of these will have a direct effect on the built environment, they all affect our shared Utahn experience. Special thanks to all our GAC members and volunteers, as well as to our fantastic lobbyists, for their efforts throughout the session. Don’t forget to keep your gloves up! 21
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