Housing First Minnesota held its second legislative town hall of the year on Tuesday, offering members a comprehensive recap of the 2025 legislative session and the outstanding items to be addressed during the upcoming special session.
The event kicked off with a market update from Kristen Crossman, Media Relations Manager, who outlined current housing trends. She highlighted a notable decline in both multifamily and single-family building permits in the Twin Cities, alongside a continuing rise in median home prices across the metro area and statewide.
Andrew LeJeune, Chair of the Housing First Advocacy Committee, opened the legislative segment by emphasizing the organization’s ongoing impact:
“During this session, the Housing First advocacy team continued to be a leading voice for housing and housing affordability at the Capitol, promoting homeownership opportunities for the next generation.”
The recap spotlighted the growing influence of the Yes to Homes coalition, the unprecedented media attention around housing and zoning reform, and the momentum gained by the Minnesota Starter Home Act.
CEO James Vagle underscored the coalition’s expansion:
“The Yes to Homes coalition is larger and stronger than ever, with dozens of member organizations ranging from business and labor groups to faith-based organizations,” Vagle said.
Mark Foster, Vice President of Legislative & Political Affairs, discussed the fate of the Minnesota Starter Home Act:
“Though the bill received bipartisan support in both Housing Committees, local government protectionists prevailed in the Senate Local Government Committee. Still, the conversation around land use and zoning reform remained front and center until the very end—and it will continue at the Capitol,” he noted.
Additional legislative topics covered included:
- Regulatory stability within labor laws and environmental mandates
- Mental health funding for the construction industry
- Inspection fee adjustments
- Lobbying clarification
- Pro-housing incentive programs
- CIC/HOA oversight
- A fix to the 2023 law preventing homeowners from replacing lost or broken keys
Looking ahead, the next town hall will focus on upcoming changes to residential and building codes. It is expected to be scheduled for late summer—watch your inbox for more details.
