Strong Bi-Partisan Votes in House & Senate for Homeowner Choice
Our multi-year effort to block the sprinkler mandate took a step forward Tuesday as the 2015 legislature delivered its strongest message of support thus far. BATC-supported amendments that would repeal the sprinkler mandate were introduced and passed Tuesday in both the House (HF843) and Senate (SF888).
Here’s what you need to know:
- The House Vote was 85-43; the Senate vote was 48-15.
- BATC’s lobbying team and leadership have been working since January to position this issue for end-of-session discussions, which begin now. In close coordination with BAM and the MN Assn. of Realtors, homebuilder champions like Rep. Bob Vogel (R-Elko New Market), Rep. Pat Garafolo (R-Farmington), House Majority Leader Joyce Peppin (R-Rogers) and Sen David Senjem (R-Rochester) have taken the lead in bringing this issue off the floors of both bodies and into conference committees.
- The conference committee stop is the key point for the sprinkler issue and is where the final terms will be negotiated between the House, Senate and Governor’s Office. Our odds remain long given the Governor’s historic unwillingness to consider a perspective outside of the Fire Chiefs. However, this is the strongest bi-partisan base of support for this issue over the past five years.
- The building and energy code lawsuit remains active and pending at the MN Court of Appeals. BATC, along with its amici parties of BAM, NAHB & Frank Kottschade, and the MN Association of Realtors, are seeking review of the appropriateness of the sprinkler mandate in the Building Code and the new Energy Code provisions. We expect oral arguments before the court in late Summer/early Fall.
THANK YOU to all who reached out to your legislators to urge them to support homeowner choice and housing affordability. BATC relayed over 720 messages to House members in just over 24 hours and we know that every house member was reached at least once, with some recieving as many as 20 emails!
The vote counts are in.
See the vote counts below from the House and Senate to see how your legislators voted on this issue. Please send a note of thanks for those who supported our position. House and Senate contact information can be found here. If you don’t know who your legislator is click here.
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