SB2835 - Relating to municipal regulation of stairway requirements in certain apartment buildings.

      S.B. No. 2835         AN ACT   relating to municipal regulation of stairway requirements in   certain apartment buildings.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 214, Local Government Code, is amended   by adding Subchapter I to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER I.   SINGLE STAIRWAY IN CERTAIN APARTMENT BUILDINGS           Sec.   214.301.     PERMITTED REGULATION OF APARTMENT BUILDING   STAIRWAY REQUIREMENTS. (a) A municipality may exercise the   authority under this section regardless of whether the municipality   has adopted local amendments to the International Building Code   under Section 214.216(c).           (b)     A municipality may authorize an apartment building to   have a single stairway only if the building:                 (1)     does not have more than six stories above grade   plane and is not a high-rise as defined by the International   Building Code, as adopted under Section 214.216;                 (2)     does not have more than four dwelling units on any   floor;                 (3)     has automatic sprinkler locations in each interior   exit stairway, regardless of the type of stairway construction,   that comply with the requirements prescribed by National Fire   Protection Association Standard 13 for combustible stairways;                   (4)  has:                       (A)  an exterior stairway; or                       (B)     an interior exit stairway for which the   doors:                             (i)     into the stairway from the interior of   the building swing into the stairway regardless of the occupant   load served; and                               (ii)     from the interior exit stairway to the   building exterior swing in the direction of exit travel;                 (5)  has interior exit stairway enclosures that:                       (A)     have a fire resistance rating of not less   than two hours; and                       (B)  do not contain an elevator opening;                 (6)     has on each floor a corridor from each dwelling   unit entry or exit door to an interior exit stairway, including any   related exit passageway, that has a fire resistance rating of at   least one hour;                 (7)     does not have more than 20 feet between the entry   or exit door of a dwelling unit and an exit stairway;                 (8)     does not have more than 125 feet of exit access   travel distance;                 (9)     has an exit serving the portion of the building   that contains two or more dwelling units that does not discharge   through a portion of the building with a different occupancy   category, including an accessory parking garage;                 (10)     has an exit that terminates in an egress court for   which the court depth does not exceed the court width, unless it is   possible to exit the egress court to the public way in either   direction;                 (11)     does not have an opening within 10 feet of an   unprotected opening into an exit stairway other than a required   exit door that has a fire resistance rating of at least one hour;                 (12)     has emergency escape and rescue openings that   comply with Section 1031 of the International Building Code as   adopted under Section 214.216 on each floor served by a single exit;                 (13)     does not have an electrical receptacle in an   interior exit stairway; and                 (14)     has an automatic smoke and fire detection system   that activates an occupant notification system that complies with   Section 907.5 of the International Building Code as adopted under   Section 214.216 installed in each:                       (A)  common space outside of a dwelling unit;                       (B)     laundry room, mechanical equipment room, and   storage room;                       (C)     interior corridor serving a dwelling unit;   and                       (D)     main floor landing or interior or exterior   exit stairway.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.               ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2835 passed the Senate on   May 9, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 2.       ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate                I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2835 passed the House on   May 27, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 81, Nays 57, two   present not voting.       ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House            Approved:     ______________________________                Date       ______________________________              Governor