Court Victory Regarding ASHRAE and IECC Codes

A recent federal court victory in Texas will help preserve housing affordability and flexibility for propane as a heating fuel in new construction. On March 5, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jeremy Kernodle ruled in State of Utah v. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, vacating a 2024 Biden-era final determination that would have mandated stricter energy efficiency standards, namely the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and 2019 ASHRAE 90, for certain new single-family and multifamily homes financed through federal programs. The court held that the agencies exceeded their authority under federal law and found the mandate would reduce housing availability by increasing costs by ten to twenty thousand dollars per home and conflict with affordability goals. This outcome, celebrated by the National Association of Home Builders and 15 states including Texas and Utah, prevents the enforcement of codes that often favor electric-heavy designs and could have limited propane’s role in rural and affordable new builds. NPGA continues advocating to protect energy choice and consumer affordability.