This bill adds two new sections to chapter 19.27 RCW and directs the State Building Code Council (SBCC) to adopt, by rule for the 2027 technical codes, standards that allow cities and counties to permit passenger elevators sized to minimally meet federal accessibility requirements in apartment buildings that are no more than six stories and no more than 24 units in total. It also directs the SBCC to convene a technical advisory group to examine requirements for elevator hoistway opening protection and for two-way visual emergency communications devices and to evaluate whether current requirements appropriately balance cost and safety for these small apartment buildings. The bill specifies required categories of members for the advisory group in addition to the membership requirements already found in RCW 19.27.033. Required categories include at least one representative from the Washington State Fire Chiefs Association, a building code official, the state elevator inspector, a major elevator manufacturer, labor involved in elevator installation/maintenance/repair, a Washington-based nonprofit with elevator expertise, disability rights and senior citizen advocacy groups, and developers and architects of small multifamily buildings. Affected entities named in the bill include the SBCC, cities and counties, and the listed stakeholder groups. This is a procedural law change that creates new statutory sections and directs rulemaking and stakeholder review; it does not itself set the detailed federal accessibility standards, specify enforcement mechanisms, or provide deadlines or reporting requirements for the advisory group. The text provided does not include RCW 19.27.033 or the specific federal accessibility standard referenced, and it is unclear whether there are additional sections or effective date provisions elsewhere in the bill. The bill was read first time 01/28/25, passed the House 03/04/26 (Yeas 93, Nays 1), and passed the Senate 03/09/26 (Yeas 41, Nays 6).

If enacted, the bill directs the State Building Code Council to adopt rules by the 2027 technical-code cycle that would let cities and counties allow passenger elevators sized only to meet federal accessibility requirements in small apartment buildings (up to six stories and 24 units). That change could make it easier and cheaper for developers and owners to include elevators in small multifamily buildings, affect architects’ designs, and shift work and demand for elevator manufacturers, installers, and maintenance crews; local building departments would need to update permitting practices and elevator inspectors and fire officials would be involved in implementation. The council must also form a technical advisory group with representatives from fire chiefs, building code officials, elevator industry, labor, disability and senior advocates, architects, and developers to review hoistway opening protection and two-way visual emergency communications to weigh cost versus safety. Key details are missing here—what federal accessibility sizes apply, how and when the advisory group must report, and whether jurisdictions will be required to allow these smaller elevators—so the practical effects will depend on the exact rules the council adopts and whether local governments choose to permit them, which could influence both costs and safety tradeoffs.