Concerning elevator standards in smaller apartment buildings.

The deadline for adopting elevator standards changed from a specific date (March 31, 2026) to a specific code cycle (the 2027 technical codes).

The requirement to adopt standards was expanded to include specific provisions for minimally sized passenger elevators that meet federal accessibility requirements for small apartment buildings.

A new mandate was added to convene a technical advisory group to evaluate elevator hoistway opening protection and two-way visual emergency communications devices.

The technical advisory group must include specific representatives from fire chiefs, building officials, elevator inspectors, manufacturers, labor, nonprofits, disability rights groups, senior citizens, developers, and architects.

The bill's scope was refined to explicitly target apartment buildings with at most six stories and at most 24 units.

Deleted provisions requiring the state building code council to adopt guidelines for exempting indigent housing from building codes and standards for temporary emergency shelters.

Added a new requirement for the department to adopt elevator safety standards for small apartment buildings by March 31, 2026.

Changed the bill number from S-0333.1 to S-0856.1 and updated the title to indicate it is a substitute bill.

Updated the 'read first' date from January 13, 2025, to January 28, 2025.

Changed the legislative action from amending RCW 19.27.042 to adding a new section to chapter 70.87 RCW.