As the first committee deadline quickly approaches, we are seeing a flurry of activity with many of the Minnesota Homeownership Initiative pieces.
While there is no yearly deadline for the introduction of bills, the Legislature establishes deadlines for committee action on bills. Committee deadlines are announced during the first half of a session in order to winnow the list of topics to be dealt with that year. The deadlines are as follows:
1st deadline – March 10, 2017 at midnight
2nd deadline – March 17, 2017 at midnight
3rd deadline – March 31, 2017 at midnight
Where do the BATC/Minnesota REALTOR initiatives currently stand?
Public Notice for Housing Moratorium: Peter Coyle, BATC Counsel, testified on behalf of SF 201 in front of the Senate Local Government Committee on Tuesday. The bill passed out of committee and now goes to the Senate floor. The companion bill in the House, HF 330 has been referred to the House General Register.
Rulemaking Review Oversight: David Siegel, BATC Executive Director and Tom Wiener, Builder Vice President, testified on behalf of HF 1001 and SF 745, a bill that would require legislative oversight for any proposed rule that would impact a homeowner by $1,000 or more. The billed passed out of the Senate State Government Policy and Finance and Elections Committee on Tuesday.
First-Time Homebuyer Savings Account: HF 1234 will receive its first hearing in the House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee on Wednesday. The Senate companion bill, SF 888, has been referred to the Senate Taxes Committee.
Condo/Townhome Development: HF 1538, a bill that would help alleviate barriers to developing owner-occupied condos and townhomes, will be discussed on Thursday in the Civil Law and Data Practices Policy Committee. The companion bill in the Senate, SF 1455, was introduced and referred to the Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee.
Manufactured Homes Title Transfer: SF 187, was heard in the Senate Transportation Finance and Policy Committee on Tuesday. This bill that would create an administrative process that manufactured homeowners could follow to obtain a new title, rather than having to commence an action in the judicial system, which can be complicated, slow, and expensive. The companion bill, HF 347, has been referred to the House Transportation and Regional Governance Policy Committee.
Home Tax Conformity: An initiative that would make mortgage debt cancellation tax relief and mortgage insurance premium deductibility permanent features of Minnesota’s tax code. SF 824 and HF 1086 have both been introduced to their respective Tax Committees.
Townhouse Definition: A long-time Housing Industry priority, this initiative is a continuation of BATC v. DLI. HF 792, a bill that would modify the townhouse definition, passed out of the House Job Growth and Energy Affordability on Tuesday. The Senate companion, SF 578, was passed as amended in the Jobs and Economic Growth Finance and Policy last week.
Visit http://www.mnhomeownership.com to view all the pieces of the Minnesota Homeownership Initiative and watch the BATC Twitter and Blog for updates.
