The Minnesota Legislature has officially adjourned for the 2018 session. And while we wait for Governor Dayton to either sign or veto many major initiatives, we are happy to report that housing priorities were once again elevated in the eyes of legislators and influencers.
Following a historic 2017 session, BATC-Housing First Minnesota entered the 2018 session poised to continue the housing affordability discussion in St. Paul.
“There are two major challenges facing the housing industry and our capacity to build homes at prices Minnesotans can afford: regulatory costs and work force pressures. Both of these were elevated and discussed at the legislature in a capacity that we had never seen before.” -David Siegel, Executive Director
BATC-Housing First Minnesota worked throughout the session to defend the industry against harmful proposed legislation and promoted two initiatives that would positively impact housing.
- The labor crisis is discussed on a daily basis in the housing industry. BATC-Housing First Minnesota led the charge in promoting the opportunities available with the industry. At the same time, we worked with partners, Associated Builders and Contractors and MBEX to promote Project Build Minnesota. Look for continued discussion around this issue in the coming months and years.
- Nearly 1/3 the price of a new home can be attributed to local, regional and state regulatory costs. Once again, the legislature discussed the need to finding the balance of safety, durability and affordability.
Look for a comprehensive session review in the coming weeks.
