Richmond, Virginia – Today, the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee passed Senator Scott Surovell’s bill to study whether Virginia laws need to be changed to assist building inspection and maintenance. SB 740 passed by a unanimous vote, and comes in response to the tragic collapse of the Surfside condominium building in Florida and the structural damage discovered in 2016 at River Towers Condos in Belleview.
“As we saw with the Surfside condo collapse, the consequences of outdated and under-enforced building inspection and maintenance laws can be catastrophic” Surovell said. “I don’t think we should wait for a disaster to occur in Virginia before addressing this issue. The study will help us bring better standards to diminish that possibility, and ensure buildings across The Commonwealth remain habitable and safe”.
SB 740 establishes a task force, which will report its findings and recommendations, including any legislative recommendations, to the Chairmen of the House Committee on General Laws and the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology no later than 2023.
The bill now heads to the Senate Finance Committee.