GMNP and the CGMC, along with others in the housing space, provided feedback on the draft MHFA Climate Roadmap on Monday – thank you to members who provided insights and feedback on the draft! 

Tuesday 2/24/26  

• House Housing and Homeless Prevention Committee
  • Heard a program update from Minnesota Housing: MN Housing Program Assessment
  • Listened to a presentation from the Minnesota Relators’ Association about the housing market: MN Realtors Presentation 

Wednesday 2/25/26 

• House Workforce, Labor and Economic Development Committee 
  • Heard an update from Explore Minnesota about their activities promoting tourism to Minnesota.  
• Senate Jobs Committee – Held an informational hearing about the Economic Impacts of Operation Metro Surge:
  • Mayors Her and Fry testified about the economic impacts of the federal surge on their cities and asked the state for some economic relief. The mayors from Richfield and Golden Valley also testified.  
  • A number of individual businesses testified about the economic damage this surge has done to their business.  
  • Explore Minnesota testified to the economic impacts of metro surge on Minnesota’s tourism and hospitality industry: Explore MN Economic Impact PP
  • Scott Marquardt and Amanda Quam testified from the Southwest Initiative Foundation and West Central Initiative Foundations to highlight the economic impacts this federal surge has had on Greater Minnesota businesses.

Tuesday 3/3/26  

• Senate Housing and Homeless Committee (12:30pm)
  • Research Overview: How Housing Supply Affects Affordability - Libby Starling, Senior Community Development Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
  • S.F. 3839 (Port) – Housing infrastructure bond issue and appropriation.
  • S.F. 2621 (Mohamed) – Constitutional Amendment proposal to increase the sales tax rate by three-eighths of one percent and dedicating the receipts for housing purposes; Homeownership opportunity fund, community and household stability fund, and rental opportunity fund establishment; fund councils establishment. 
  • The State Housing Tax Credit Bill is expected to be added to the agenda for a hearing as well.
  • Letter of support and requests to testify must be submitted by 12:30pm on Monday, March 2, to committee administrator Jack Dudley: jack.dudley@mnsenate.gov
• House Housing Finance & Policy Committee (3:00pm)

  • Starter Homes Act – The Starter Homes Act is the new "Yes to Homes" bill.

  • State Housing Tax Credit Bill
  • Handouts, written testimony, and testifier requests must be in PDF format and emailed to the Committee Administrator Lorie Cousineau: lorie.cousineau@house.mn.gov
  • Bill numbers for the legislation listed above have not been posted yet, but we will share that information as soon as possible. 

• Repeals the current 2028 program sunset. While this provision will be in the House bill, authored by Representative Spencer Igo, it is not in the Senate bill authored by Senator Carla Nelson. A stand alone bill to repeal the sunset may be introduced in the Senate. 
• Aligns the State Housing Tax Credit program with the Greater Minnesota Workforce Housing Development Program, a change supported by Minnesota Housing, so that these programs can be paired. This provision will be in both the House and Senate bills. 
• Geographic balance of the program between the 7-county metro and outside the 7-country metropolitan area, with language to be similar to that providing geographic balance for other programs. This provision will be in both the House and Senate bills. We are still working with Minnesota Housing on best language for this provision.

Sign-on letter to Minnesota lawmakers in support of strengthening and expanding the State Housing Tax Credit. MHP is collecting signatures for sign on letters. Separate letters with the same text will be submitted to the House and Senate Committees. Deadline for sign-on is 11:00 am on Monday, March 2. This letter is for organizational signers only. Review the letter and sign-on here.

 Additional hearings are likely to be posted throughout the week.

• S.F. 3664 (Champion) – Agency policy bill.
• S.F. 3839 (Port) – Housing infrastructure bond issue and appropriation.
• H.F. 3600 (Perryman) – Competitive selection processes modified for certain housing development programs.

Legislative Breaks:    

• Easter/Passover/Eid Recess 
  • Begins on: March 27 at 5:00 p.m. 
  • Legislative activities resume on: April 7 at 8:00 a.m. 

Committee Deadlines:   

• Friday, March 27 at 5 p.m.: Committees must act favorably on bills in the chamber of origin and committees must act favorably on bills, or companions of bills, that met the first deadline in the other body.
• Friday, April 17 at 5 p.m.: Committees must act favorably on major appropriation and finance bills.
• Session is scheduled to end on May 18th

If you found this update helpful and are interested in learning more, make sure you join GMNP's monthly Legislative Debrief Sessions!

Each debrief session will feature a Capitol activity update, a review of GMNP’s policy priorities, and an open dialogue with GMNP Executive Director Darielle Dannen to hear your insights, feedback, and opportunities for increased involvement during the 2026 legislative session.

These sessions are meant to be informal discussion-based conversations among GMNP members.

Sessions will take place on the last Friday of each month during the legislative session (with the exception of May). All meetings will be held virtually via Zoom from 12:00pm-1:00pm.

Visit GMNP's event calendar on our website for details and registration.