Federal Advocacy

BOMA International's work on the national level has returned millions of dollars to commercial real estate building owners and managers.

Codes and Standards Achievements

In 2010, BOMA International made efforts to preserve safe, achievable and cost-effective codes and standards. BOMA succeeded in opposing costly modifications to the ICC International Codes, averting regulatory requirement that would have cost BOMA members over $7 billion in direct costs and long-term revenues. BOMA’s involvement with the development of the nation’s first national model green building standard secured workable and cost effective provisions. BOMA was instrumental in facilitating a landmark agreement between ASHRAE and ICC to collaborate on the development and marketing of national green building codes. 

Over the past decade, the real estate industry has witnessed an increase in the mixing of types of building occupancy to enhance usage of spaces for tenants. BOMA launched an effort to develop a whole new standard to address mixed-use buildings in 2010. The new BOMA Mixed-Use Standard will address properties that are being utilized in multiple ways, and it will be applicable to single buildings, integrated multi-building structures, to campus-style settings and wherever multiple uses in a property are encountered. 

Advocacy

In the past year, BOMA International took many steps to enhance its work at the state and local levels. It increased the presence in numerous state-focused public policy groups, supported state-level research initiatives, and developed online tools to better educate officials about the commercial real estate industry.

In the 2011 Issues Report, you can read about BOMA’s stances on programs, initiatives, taxes, and other specific issues. Topics include the Voluntary Model Building Energy Performance Program, voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction, tax incentives for energy efficiency and commercial buildings, the 7-Point Challenge, lead in paint, stormwater management, incentives for investing in water efficiency, federalization of building codes, the commercial real estate credit crisis, carried interest tax treatment, capital gains tax cut and elimination, leasehold depreciation, the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act, roof depreciation, catastrophe insurance, how to preserve a democratic workplace, energy efficiency and green building codes, accessibility codes and standards, and emergency preparedness.

For information on BOMA International's advocacy efforts, please click here.