BIA Advocacy Update

City of Fargo seeks feedback for 2026 Land Development Code

If you are interested in providing feedback, please head to FargoLDC.org to view the project documents, which include posters from the most recent LDC workshop, the updated diagnostic and preliminary direction report and upcoming code connect recordings.

The city is also hosting live updates online called "Code Connect." The first one will take place noon - 1 p.m. Thursday, March 27.

Go to FargoLDC.org at that date/time, and you'll find a link to the virtual meeting at the top of the homepage. 

This event will include a brief project update, educational information, and an opportunity to submit questions for a Q&A with project representatives. The initial Code Connect is intended to bring together not only stakeholders, but also general public to follow and be part of the process.

Minnesota and North Dakota Legislative Sessions

BIA-RRV, Builders Association of Minnesota and North Dakota Association of Builders continue to monitor the legislative sessions happening in M.N. and N.D. 

BAM is still fighting the M.N. worker misclassification ruling in court. The preliminary injunction to delay the implementation date of March 1, 2025, was denied. BAM and the other plaintiffs have officially appealed Judge Tunheim's ruling to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. 

All documents can be found on BAM's website,

• Full document access: www.bamn.org
• Direct link to Misclassification page: https://bamn.org/bam-files-federal-injunction-to-halt-implementation-of-misclassification-bill/

For resources and information on the worker misclassification rule, head to https://www.dli.mn.gov/misclassification-construction. 

BIA-RRV is monitoring various housing and employer-related bills.

NDAB has been closely following many bills this session and has provided testimony both in-person and written. BIA also recently expressed our support of Senate Bill 2239, which would create a grant program for qualified registered apprenticeship programs in N.D. We believe this will assist in furthering apprenticeship programs in our state and help train the next generation. 

Upcoming Building Industry Connect on March 19

On Wednesday, March 19, we'll be joined by West Fargo Commissioner Rory Jorgensen. For BIA members interested, click here for more information and to register.

These sessions are a casual way to meet with local officials. No agenda or presentation, just a conversation about issues related to the building industry and our community over lunch. 

News from NAHB

WOTUS Updates

In a big win for the industry, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin recently announced that the EPA will work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to gather public input and craft a new regulation for the waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule that would reduce red tape, cut overall permitting costs and lower the cost of business in communities across the country while protecting the nation’s navigable waters from pollution.

EPA will also undertake a rulemaking process to revise the 2023 definition of WOTUS with a focus on clarity. While this rulemaking process proceeds, the agency will provide guidance to those states implementing the pre-2015 definition of WOTUS to ensure consistency with the law of the land.  

Click here to read the article from NAHB. 

NAHB secures lumber inclusion in delay of Mexican and Canadian Tariffs

Recently, Trump announced a one-month tariff delay until April 2 on all products from Mexico and Canada that are covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. While there is no specific language in the USMCA addressing Canadian softwood lumber, NAHB worked with the White House to ensure it was covered under the latest pause on tariff implementation.

To read more on tariff's implications for the homebuilding industry and the work NAHB is doing, click here.