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Notes -
Update: It seems that I misunderstood the code-amendment process (simple explanation, full rules).
A proposed amendment is discussed and voted on at three hearings—first, by the relevant ICC committee; second, by the committee again if it was disapproved in the first vote; and, third, by code officials. But the three hearing votes are just preliminary. If an amendment is disapproved in all three of the hearing votes, then it does not get a fourth vote. But an amendment that is approved in at least one of the three hearing votes goes to a fourth vote of code officials. The ballots of the third vote and the fourth vote are combined to determine whether the amendment is added to the code. In this final combined vote: disapproval always requires a simple majority; approval of an amendment approved by the committee requires a simple majority; and approval of an amendment disapproved by the committee requires a two-thirds majority.
My previous comment addressed only the committee votes. This document contains all four votes for every proposed 2027 amendment.
E24-24 (allowing larger apartment buildings to have only one exit) was approved in a final combined vote of 67 to 33.
RB121-25 (allowing stairways in houses to be steeper) was disapproved in a final combined vote of 88 to 12.
G154-25 (allowing elevators to comply with ISO elevator standards), G158-25 (allowing taller apartment buildings to have elevators too small for stretchers), and RB115-25 (requiring house exterior doors to have locks) apparently were disapproved in all three of the hearing votes and therefore did not qualify for a fourth vote.
The 2027 IBC, incorporating E24-24, has been published. Publication of the 2027 IRC is expected to take place in February. Note that amendments adopted by the ICC are not guaranteed to be adopted by state govts.
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