ST. PAUL – Three bills Rep. Bob Vogel, R-Elko-New Market, authored this session have been included in a package related to jobs and energy the Minnesota House of Representatives approved Wednesday.
Vogel's bills included in the House Jobs and Energy omnibus bill include:
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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.
Vogel said the repeal of the sprinkler mandate is a two-part provision. In addition to eliminating the mandate, his legislation 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," Vogel said. "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."
Vogel's bills were included in the House's Omnibus Job Growth and Energy Affordability Finance Bill (H.F. 843). It 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.
The House's jobs and energy bill now will enter a House-Senate conference committee to resolve differences between the bodies' respective proposals.
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