With just ten days remaining before the constitutionally mandated adjournment for the 2025 legislative session, much work remains. Zero budget bills have been negotiated through conference committee and the need for a special session to finish the biennium’s budget appears increasingly likely.
Here’s a rundown on the state of affairs for bills that impact the housing industry:
On Tuesday, the House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development committee and the House Ways & Means committee heard the labor omnibus bill (HF 2441). The bill currently does not include the modest fee increases to electrical and plumbing inspections that Housing First Minnesota supports, while the Senate version does. We expect these discussions to continue in conference committee next week.
Later that afternoon, the Senate Floor took up the HOA omnibus bill (SF 1750). During the discussion, Sen. Rasmusson (R) presented the A19 Amendment, which prevents local governments from mandating unnecessary HOAs be created for new developments. This language was supported by Housing First Minnesota and the ‘Yes to Homes’ coalition. The League of Minnesota Cities was neutral on the language. The amendment was adopted with 58 Senators in favor and 6 opposing. The bill eventually passed 44-22. The House has yet to act on the companion bill.
The Senate floor also took up SF 2300, which modifies the Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) program. This bill changes the requirements for providing documentation to the employer and notice given by an employee when using ESST. Amendments exempting family farms with five or fewer employees and other businesses with three or fewer employees were adopted. The bill passed the Senate floor, but action in the House on similar language remains.
Finally, on Thursday a Conference Committee convened to discuss the housing finance omnibus bill (SF 2298). House Conferees include Reps. Igo (R – Chair), Howard (DFL), Kozlowski (DFL), and Nash (R); Senate Conferees include Sens. Port (DFL – Chair), Boldon (DFL), and Lucero (R). Testimony was taken from several stakeholders, but the Conference Committee was unable to take any action on the bill as they are waiting for more information on their budget target.
Your Housing First Minnesota advocacy team continues to work with legislators to advocate for homeownership opportunities for all Minnesotans. Watch for additional legislative updates and sign up for June’s Legislative Town Hall.
A review of this week’s media coverage can be found here:
- Minnesota cities to legislators: Don’t tell us how to fix the housing shortage | Star Tribune
- A last-ditch effort to reform Minnesota zoning fails in Senate committee | Minnesota Reformer
- Minnesota Zoning Reform Bill Fails Again | Finance & Commerce
