The legislature is spending the final weeks of the 2023 session consumed with discussions on finance and policy omnibus bills.
Labor Chaos in the House
On Monday, the House of Representatives heard, and ultimately passed, the Omnibus Jobs, Economic Development, Labor, and Industry Bill. During the discussion, House Republicans proposed numerous amendments to the labor liability language contained within Article 15 that the housing industry raised concerns about. Rep. Shane Mekeland (Becker) offered an amendment to strike the language altogether.
Ultimately, the House majority refused to adopt any of the amendments.
“Day after day we hear about housing affordability and the lack of housing supply,” said Mark Foster, vice president of legislative & political affairs. “Unfortunately, this week the House majority moved forward with language that is very likely to increase the costs of housing and cause workforce chaos within the housing industry.”
The Omnibus Jobs, Economic Development, Labor, and Industry Bill passed both chambers and will head to a conference committee session to reconcile their differences. The problematic liability language is included in the House version, but not the Senate version.
Senate Punts on Zoning
On Tuesday, the Senate heard the housing omnibus bill, which would appropriate $1.07 billion over the 2024-25 biennium to housing-related programs.
During the debate, Sen. Rich Draheim (R, Madison Lake) and Sen. Eric Lucero, (R, St. Michael) offered four amendments aimed at reducing the costs of new housing. The amendments allowed for consumer choice in aesthetic mandates, capped park fees imposed by local governments, required state agencies to report to the legislature when a rule would increase the costs of a new house by at least $3,000, and halted the adoption of new building and energy codes for a few years.
Nearly all opposition to the amendments fell along party lines. However, the Chair of the Housing Committee, Sen. Lindsey Port (DFL, Burnsville), promised meaningful discussion on these items in the next legislative session.
“While there are many positive provisions in the housing omnibus bill, including monies for first-generation homebuyers, the bill falls short of meeting Minnesota’s housing needs,” said Mark Foster, Vice President of Legislative & Political Affairs. “The housing industry is begging to help address the state’s housing deficit, especially at the lower price points, but we need significant policy reform enacted at the legislature.”
Watch your inboxes for additional opportunities to engage with your legislators regarding these items and more as the legislature wraps up its work for 2023.
