Dear Neighbor,
Hello from the Capitol, where this week budget bills are taking center stage in the House. We have passed transportation and jobs/energy bills so far, with several more on deck.
I was pleased to have three bills I authored this session included in Omnibus Job Growth and Energy Affordability Finance Bill (H.F. 843). They are:
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H.F. 1105 expands a program which provides avenues for minority and low-income citizens who qualify to either to start up a business or grow an existing business they have. Vogel said the bill would provide access to consulting programs which provide learning lessons, along with ways of obtaining loans to help overcome gaps in funding entrepreneurs often face.
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H.F. 1969 states housing plans developed by the Met Council must receive approval from the Legislature before being implemented. Vogel said this would provide local governments with more control over housing plans, because now they have the right to comment on the Met Council proposal, but no way to intervene in implementation with a veto or rejection of how it affects them. Note: The northern part of District 20A, which lies in Scott County, falls under the Met Council's auspices.
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H.F. 843 repeals a mandate requiring fire sprinkler systems be installed in new homes of 4,500 square feet or larger.
The sprinkler bill is a two-part provision. In addition to eliminating the mandate, it also stipulates contractors shall draw up a sprinkler system and provide a cost estimate as an option during the blueprint process.
This should be provided as an option to people so they can see it as an optional accessory and choose whether to have a sprinkler system installed. They can make a positive decision during the homebuilding process instead of seeing this as something being forced upon them and looking for ways around a mandate.
Although quite a good-sized home, we aren't talking about mansions here. A 4,500-square-foot home is as simple as a two-story home with 1,500-feet on each level and in the basement.
Overall, the bill includes provisions aimed at making energy cleaner and more affordable, as well as developing market-rate workforce housing and providing broadband Internet funding to continue job growth and technology expansion in Greater Minnesota. It now will enter a House-Senate conference committee to resolve differences between the bodies' respective proposals.
The House also this week passed a transportation bill called the Road and Bridge Act of 2015. It advanced as the major part of a plan which invests $7 billion over the next decade without raising taxes.
Cities of 5,000 or fewer residents would receive a combined $282 million over the next decade for transportation-related projects through the House proposal. Together, towns in our District 20A would receive nearly $300,000 annually. Here is a rundown of the estimated distribution: Cleveland, $25,105; LeCenter, $61,009; LeSueur, $99,827; Elko-New Market, $97,346.
Other budget bills will continue arriving on the House floor for votes and we are scheduled to spend Saturday at the Capitol to continue our work on them. I will keep you up to speed as things develop.
Sincerely,
Bob