ADVOCACY IN ACTION
L E G I S L AT I V E U P D AT E Session Ends With a Fizzle The state legislature failed to pass any meaningful supplemental legislation by the constitutional deadline to adjourn. Gov. Tim Walz, House Speaker Melissa Hortman, and Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller announced a framework agreement ahead of the deadline in hopes of utilizing the largest state surplus in state history. But the Senate GOP and House DFL were unable to bridge the rather large gaps between their respective omnibus bills.
The Senate bill would have also required cities to post an agreed-upon PUD at least seven days in advance of the governing body’s review of the agreement. Finally, it included the limitation on aesthetic mandates language. The House Housing Omnibus Bill focused more on state appropriations for different
housing programs and numerous changes to landlord-tenant law. “We have a shortage of housing units: 50,000 units. Our focus is to build more housing and get more people on the pathway to homeownership,” stated Sen. Rich Draheim (R-Madison Lake) as he introduced the housing provisions to the Senate.
This ultimately means that the housing legislative language, which included multiple important Housing First Minnesota priorities and funding proposals that were in play, had a similar fate with no final agreement. The three parties could not even find agreement on what to do next with a possible special session. Walz had previously said he would not call the legislature into special session but indicated later that he was open to it. The House DFL said that they too would like to try to come back to finish, but the Senate GOP has expressed that they have little interest in returning to St. Paul given how far apart each side is on major items like public safety and education. This means most of the $9 billion surplus will sit on the bottom line until the next legislature takes office in January. Look for updates at blog.housingfirstmn.org. What was in play for the housing omnibus bills? The Senate Housing Omnibus Bill included provisions that would prohibit cities from mandating a PUD if the proposed residential development complies with the existing zoning ordinances, subdivision, regulation, or qualifies as a conditional use.
We have a shortage of housing units: 50,000 units. Our focus is to build more housing and get more people on the pathway to homeownership.” SEN. RICH DRAHEIM R–MADISON L AKE
JULY–SEPTEMBER 2022 | HOUSING FIRST MINNESOTA
The Digest
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