Rep. Penterman authors bill in Wisconsin Assembly updating building code rules

A bill authored by State Rep. William Penterman in the Wisconsin Assembly aims to update building code rules for public structures to reflect recent standards and assess impacts on housing costs, according to the Wisconsin State Assembly.

According to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s official website, the bill was described as follows: “applicability of the commercial building code to certain buildings. (FE)”.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill mandates that the commercial building code rules, effective as of August 1, 2025, apply to public buildings, structures, or places of employment whose plans are submitted for compliance examination by April 1, 2026. Prior to September 1, 2025, the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) followed the 2015 International Building Code, but from September 1, 2025, onward, it adheres to the 2021 version. This transition may impact the cost and availability of housing as development and construction costs could be affected. Consequently, the Department of Administration is required to prepare a report on this potential impact to be included as an appendix to the bill.

The bill was co-authored by Sen. Rob Hutton (Republican-5th District), Rep. Scott Allen (Republican-82nd District), Rep. Robert Brooks (Republican-59th District), Rep. Daniel Knodl (Republican-24th District), and Rep. Paul Melotik (Republican-22nd District). It was co-sponsored by Sen. Dan Feyen (Republican-20th District), Sen. André Jacque (Republican-1st District), and Sen. Steve Nass (Republican-11th District), along with seven other co-sponsors.

William Penterman has co-authored or authored another 124 bills since the beginning of the 2025 session, with two of them being enacted.

Penterman graduated from Ripon College in 2018 with a BA.

Penterman, a Republican, was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2025 to represent the state’s 38th Assembly district, replacing previous state representative Barbara Dittrich.

In Wisconsin, the legislative process starts when a senator, constituent, group, or agency proposes an idea for a bill. After drafting, the bill is introduced, numbered, and referred to a committee for review and public input. If approved, it moves through three readings and votes in both the Senate and Assembly. Once both chambers pass the same version, the bill goes to the governor, who can sign it, veto it, or let it become law without a signature. Only a small share of bills introduced each session ultimately become law. You can learn more about the Wisconsin legislative process here.