HOA, Parking, Aesthetics and More Also Move on
Many of the Yes to Homes package of bills that were recently introduced received their first committee hearings this week. Members of this diverse coalition, including Housing First, were present at every hearing in support of the bills.
Minnesota Starter Home Act
On Tuesday, the Housing Committees in both the House and Senate heard the Minnesota Starter Home Act. The Senate version, SF 2229 is carried by Sens. Port (D) and Rasmusson (R). In the House, HF 1987 is carried by Reps. Igo (R) and Howard (D).
Nick Erickson, senior director of housing policy for Housing First Minnesota, testified in support of the bill in both bodies.
“This isn’t about control or community character; this is about one simple question: do you believe that homeownership opportunities should be available to future generations of Minnesotans?” Erickson said.
There was testimony from a broad coalition of supporters and lively discussion among committee members.
On the House side, Representative Howard introduced the bill, “We have a generation of Minnesotans that can’t afford to buy a home in the community where they grew up. That should concern all of us.”
In the Senate, Senator Rasmusson concluded the hearing, “We need solutions like this that reduce red tape and allow the free market to build the kind of homes that people want and can afford.”
The Minnesota Starter Home Act will be heard by the Senate State and Local Government Committee and House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee next.
Transforming Main Street Act
Also on Tuesday, the Senate Housing Committee heard SF 2286, authored by Sens. Clark (D) and Draheim (R). This bill, known as the Transforming Main Street Act, allows for multi-family housing to be built within existing commercial corridors, includes flexibility for mixed-use developments, and eliminates barriers that drive up the cost of housing.
On Wednesday, the House Housing Committee heard the companion bill, HF 2018 (Kozlowski – D, Dotseth – R).
The Transforming Main Street Act was referred to the Senate State and Local Government Committee and the House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee.
Aesthetic Mandates
The House Housing Committee took up Rep. Nash’s (R) bill (HF 2013) that prohibits aesthetic mandates.
Mark Foster, vice president of legislative and political affairs for Housing First Minnesota, testified in support of the bill.
“Homeownership is the desire of all Minnesotans. Zoning and housing aesthetics should not be used as a tool of exclusion.”
Aesthetic mandates such as vinyl siding bans and stone or brick facade requirements can exceed $20,000 per house—this increase equates to 50,000 Minnesotan households no longer being able to afford that mortgage.
Foster closed, “This language before you is a small but important piece of the puzzle. For the sake of the next generation of homebuyers, we need your help in removing these exclusionary roadblocks.”
The bill was referred to the House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee.
More Homes, Right Places Act
On Wednesday, the House Housing Committee heard two mixed-use housing zoning bills. The first being HF 2140 (Kraft – D, Dotseth – R), also known as the More Homes, Right Places Act. This bill legalizes triplexes and fourplexes near transit corridors, gives cities flexibility about where to place new housing, and eliminates various barriers that drive up the cost of housing.
The bill was referred to the House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee.
On Thursday, the Senate Housing Committee heard the companion bill, SF 2231 (Boldon – D, Draheim – R).
The bill was referred to the Senate State and Local Government Committee.
Parking Reform
On Thursday, the Senate Housing committee heard Sens. Fateh (D) and Rasmusson’s (R) parking reform bill (SF 1268). This bill prohibits cities from imposing minimum parking mandates, allowing businesses and developers to decide how much parking they need.
The bill was referred to the Senate State and Local Government Committee.
HOA Reform
Finally, the Senate Housing Committee heard SF 1750 from Sens. Lucero (R) and Pha (D), which reforms common interest communities (CICs) and homeowners associations (HOAs). Most notably, the bill amends existing provisions that allow for loopholes in which local governments can mandate HOAs through unnecessary common property requirements.
Housing First Minnesota wrote in a letter of support for the bill, stating “We have a home shortage in Minnesota and a housing affordability crisis. We need more homes, not more HOAs.”
The bill was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
These bills are expected to be heard at their next committee stops in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for updates as they continue to move forward.
A review of this week’s media coverage can be found here:
- HOA reform bill clears first hurdle in state Senate | Minnesota Reformer
- Northern MN Reps. Kozlowski, Igo aim for rural housing solutions | KAXE
- Minnesota lawmakers weigh tax refunds, few restrictions to boost housing affordability | Homes.com
- Senate Housing Committee hears bipartisan Minnesota Starter Home Act to help families afford their first home | Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus
- Yes to Homes: Statewide housing shortage demands a common-sense solution | Post Bulletin
- Here’s what’s in the bipartisan housing bills that are making cities nervous | Minnesota Reformer
- State lawmakers discuss efforts to address housing shortage | Sun Current
