Texas legislature declines International Plumbing Code mandate

The International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) announced that the 88^th Texas Legislature has declined to pass a bill that would have mandated the International Plumbing Code across all state jurisdictions.

House Bill 2689 would have mandated that all jurisdictions in the state adopt the International Plumbing Code, a counterpart to IAPMO’s Uniform Plumbing Code.

More than five million Texans live in areas that have adopted the UPC. Nationwide, nearly 96 million people live in UPC jurisdictions.

IAPMO said that the one-size-fits-all approach of HB 2689 would have been detrimental to the plumbing industry and the communities it serves, stifling innovation and flexibility in plumbing practices.

“We are encouraged that the legislature rejected this legislation for a third time, ensuring that jurisdictions in Texas can continue to make informed decisions that best suit their local plumbing needs, rather than being forced to adopt one plumbing code,” said Josh Hollub of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association of Texas (PHCC).