Bill would help Winona, other fire victims rebuild

SPOKANE – Rep. Mike Volz wants to give 2023 wildfire victims more say in rebuilding homes and property that were destroyed.

Volz, R-Spokane, introduced House Bill 1899, which would require municipal governments to allow property owners the ability to use either state building codes in effect Jan. 1, 2023, or new state building codes at the time of reconstruction.

Under House Bill 1899, any building permit application for property damaged or destroyed by a wildfire during 2023, while an emergency proclamation from the governor was in effect, could be permitted and built in accordance with the s...