Dear BATC Members,
The 2017 legislative session has concluded and we are pleased to report that housing won big!
Last summer we charted an ambitious plan to take our industry to the next level. Key to this plan was our growing partnership with the Minnesota REALTORS®, who shared our vision that housing could and should be elevated. Following the November elections, we assessed the legislative landscape and developed a collection of proposals to encourage first-time homebuyer opportunities and to create housing affordability for all. We worked through our respective committees and boards, and when 2017 arrived the Minnesota Homeownership Initiative was rolled out and hit the ground running.
A major initiative like this requires all of the elements of modern advocacy. We had lobbyists working in St. Paul, strong social media engagement, and issue advocacy advertising on radio, print, and digital. These were paired with technical research on our key issues, expert testimony from our membership, grassroots engagement at key moments in the session, and an award-winning Housing Day at the Capitol.
All of these elements work together to raise awareness and to inspire legislators to act. Legislators addressed our issues in a way we’ve not seen previously. With a half-dozen major proposals working their way through the process, it took dedicated housing champions to manage these bills. We are heartened by the support from leaders at the legislature who have become our partners in growing the housing movement.
Perhaps the best news of all, we aren’t done building and elevating! As the leading voice for our industry, we are committed to growing our programs, bringing our industry together, and achieving even more for you.
We hope you enjoy reading about the 2017 legislative accomplishments, and we thank you for your support.
Onward,
