November 21, 2025
Mr. James introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
To amend the Energy Conservation and Production Act to require the consideration of additional factors prior to updating revised Federal building energy efficiency performance standards, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Path to Affordable Homes Act of 2025
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Sec. 2. Consideration of additional factors relating to revised Federal building energy efficiency performance standards
Section 305(a)(3)(B) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act (42 U.S.C. 6834(a)(3)(B)) is amended to read as follows:
(B)
(i)
Not later than 1 year after the date of approval of each subsequent revision of the ASHRAE Standard or the International Energy Conservation Code, as appropriate, the Secretary shall determine whether the revised standards established under this paragraph should be updated to reflect the amendment based on—
(I)
the cost-effectiveness, technological feasibility, and potential effect on the reliability of the electric grid of the requirements under the amendment;
(II)
the extent to which such requirements directly relate to energy efficiency; and
(III)
whether such requirements would result in a building being required to transition to consuming a different type of energy or consuming energy generated from a different source.
(ii)
In determining whether to update the revised standards in accordance with clause (i), if the Secretary determines under clause (i)(III) that requirements under an amendment would result in a building being required to transition from consuming fossil fuel-generated energy to consuming energy generated from a different source, the Secretary shall consider such determination a negative factor against making such update.