Dive Brief:

• As the Minnesota Legislature wrapped up its session, Gov. Mark Dayton was able to fend off one last effort to repeal a law that will require sprinkler systems in new homes 4,500 square feet or greater after the end of this year.
• The Builders Association of the Twin Cities opposed the requirement, citing costs it said would be much higher than the average $4,200 per house figure cited by proponents.
• Firefighters pushed for adoption of the law, saying new building materials used in homes burn faster than the materials they replace and are more dangerous to occupants if there is a fire.

Dive Insight:

Opponents who wanted to repeal the sprinkler requirement before it could take effect tried to do it as part of a major construction funding bill in May, and Dayton threatened to veto the whole thing. The 2009 International Residential Code included residential sprinklers, and California and Maryland have adopted mandates. A rule in Pennsylvania was repealed in 2011, shortly after taking effect.