Tag: state legislature
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Gov. Walz, legislative leaders leave housing shortage largely unaddressed
Minnesota’s severe housing shortage, estimated at more than 100,000 homes, was a constant refrain throughout the 2025 legislative session. Lawmakers from both parties introduced numerous bills designed to expand housing options across the state. Still, despite bipartisan support and vocal backing from advocates, none made it across the finish line. At the center of the… Read More
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Legislators introduce ‘Yes to Homes’ agenda
Slate of bipartisan bills are aimed to increase housing options and opportunities across Minnesota. Read More
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Minnesota produces a historic, rare outcome at state capitol
Housing policy reform arises as one of the few bipartisan opportunities. Minnesota voters seem to prefer a split state government. History shows that there has been one-party control only four out of the past 34 years, including 2023 and 2024. Following the most recent election, the Minnesota Legislature will enter the 2025 legislative session as… Read More
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DFL majorities move to adopt liability shift language in labor omnibus bill
Following more than a week of closed-door negotiations between members of the Jobs, Economic Development, and Labor Conference Committee, the language of the agreement between the House and the Senate was released Friday morning and adopted by the committee that night. Energy code chaos The House version originally contained language that would have created a… Read More
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Housing omnibus bill passed with $1 billion in new investments, metro sales tax
On Sunday evening, the Housing Conference Committee rolled out the agreed-upon deal on the housing omnibus bill between the House and the Senate. The language includes a record $1 billion in investments for housing programs, a new metro area sales tax increase, and a noticeable lack of policy. Funds for housing opportunities An investment plan… Read More
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House passes housing omnibus bill, punts on zoning modernization
The legislature is spending the final weeks of the 2023 legislative session consumed with debate on various finance and policy omnibus bills. On Wednesday night, the House of Representatives heard the housing omnibus bill, HF 2335 (Howard). The bill would appropriate $1.07 billion over the 2024-25 biennium to housing-related programs. Amendments regarding zoning heard During… Read More
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Mid-session legislative round-up on housing
In March, DFL leaders from the House and Senate introduced its ‘All Roads Lead Back to Home‘ plan, a series of proposals aimed at addressing homelessness, investments in development infrastructure, and various rental support programs. Several stand-alone bills are moving on several issues relating to housing regulatory and workforce policies. In many other states, lifting… Read More
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Commentary: Big Problems Require Bold, Ambitious Action – Housing Is No Different
By Nick Erickson, Housing Affordability Institute Editor’s note: Housing Industry News publishes a mix of commentaries online and in print. Across the nation, legislators and governors are thinking big when it comes to housing reform. Massive issues like the housing inventory, affordability and access problems seen in a growing number of states require bold and… Read More
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Zoning modernization takes first steps at Capitol
As the legislature moves into its third month of the 2023 session, Minnesota’s crisis-level housing supply challenge took its first step forward. Rep. Steve Elkins (DFL-Bloomington) authored HF 2235, a zoning modernization bill, calling it the ‘Legalize Affordable Housing Act’. The measure cleared its first hurdle, passing out of the House of Representatives Housing Committee.… Read More
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Bill proposing ban on single-family rental construction garners national attention
As with any legislative session, a wide variety of issues are being discussed and debated. Among these are many housing-related issues. Recently, a bill to ban the construction of single-family for rent homes by corporations, has stood out as housing leaders look to address the state’s housing supply crisis. And now, this proposal has caught… Read More
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Housing supply solutions left on the table
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Exclusive: Minnesota single stair review shows taller buildings possible with code changes
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Federal government withdraws energy code rule
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A framework for improved model building codes
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Less efficient, older homes make up greatest share of housing stock as energy codes focus on new home construction