HB 227 - Universal Design Standards for Affordable Housing

• Requires all newly constructed dwelling units using public financial assistance to include bids indicating the extent of universal design standards compliance, with a maximum 40-point scale for evaluation.

• Defines public financial assistance to include state contracts, donated state real estate, state tax credits, state grants, state loan guarantees, federal funds administered by the state, and local government funding.

• Establishes universal design standards for dwelling units including no-step entry (8 points), accessible interior routes and 36-inch doorways (5 points), accessible bathrooms with 60-inch turning space (1 point), accessible primary bedrooms (7 points), and accessible kitchens with 60-inch turning space (1 point).

• Requires additional accessibility features in bathrooms such as barrier-free shower stalls, raised toilet seats (16 inches minimum), knee space under lavatories, ADA-compliant faucets, hand-held showers, and grab bars or grab bar blocking.

• Allows extent of universal design use to serve as a basis for awarding contracts based on best value rather than lowest bid, while preserving compliance with more stringent requirements in other applicable building codes and disability rights statutes.