Bill making changes to interim ordinance process passed by House

Statutory or home-rule charter cities attempting to impose an interim ordinance that regulates, restricts or prohibits housing activities would need to hold a public hearing before doing so, under a bill passed by the House 82-47 Wednesday.

Rep. Jim Nash

Sponsored by Rep. Jim Nash (R-Waconia), HF2585 would also require those cities to publish notice of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation at least 10 days before it was held.

Nash said he believes the 10-day period is a “reasonable request” that would allow builders, homeowners and realtors the opportunity to avoid interim ordinances if at all possible.

“This is a very straightforward, simple bill,” Nash said.

However, Rep. Mike Freiberg (DFL-Golden Valley) was one of several members who spoke in opposition. He said most cities are not working to stop the spread of housing and that the process of publishing notice in a newspaper often requires more than 10 days.

Rep. Jack Considine Jr. (DFL-Mankato) said the bill was “micromanaging” local governments, and they would not appreciate it.

Interim ordinances can be used by municipal governments for up to one year to regulate, restrict or prohibit a use, development or subdivision. This is often done to protect the municipality’s planning process.

A provision that would have changed the requirement for imposing an interim ordinance from a simple majority vote, by the municipality’s governing body, to a two-thirds vote, was removed from the bill by a Nash amendment.

The bill now heads to the Senate where Sen. Melisa Franzen (DFL-Edina) is the sponsor.