BIA Advocacy Update

BIA leadership and staff attend FMWF Chamber Moorhead and Detroit Lakes Day at the Capitol

BIA CEO Bryce Johnson, Education & Public Affairs Specialist Elizabeth Kosel and Public Issues Committee Chair Trenton Gerads, Cass Clay Community Land Trust, were in St. Paul last week for the Chamber's Day at the Capitol, visiting with Minnesota legislators and state leaders. We were joined by leaders from the city, county, education, agriculture, building, business and tourism sectors. In addition to meeting with our local representation, we were able to meet with the deputy commissioner of the MN Department of Agriculture, policy advisors for Gov. Tim Walz, the executive director for Explore MN, and legislators holding leadership roles, including Sen. Erin Murphy and Rep. Lisa Demuth.

A major theme throughout the days was the importance of bipartisan collaboration. With a tied House of Representatives and a slim DFL majority in the Senate, most legislation will require bipartisan support to advance. The Chamber's contingency highlighted topics such as border competitiveness, tax conformity, paid family and medical leave, funding for flood mitigation and more. 

Each of these areas impacts the building and housing industries, for those operating a business, but also employees and ultimately, consumers. We aimed to communicate and emphasize that the policy decisions create a ripple effect across our community and industries. 

Above: Attendees from the Day at the Capitol on the steps of Minnesota's Capitol.

BIA submits letter supporting changes to Minnesota Residential Energy Code mandate

In response to House File 3545, a bill that would make changes to the residential energy code mandate of achieving a 70% net reduction by 2038 in the state residential energy code compared to the 2006 IECC, BIA submitted a letter of support. The letter outlines the impacts the mandate has on housing affordability and why changes to the rule are needed.

MN Construction Codes and Licensing Division Spring Newsletter

The spring 2026 version of the CCLD Review is now available. It includes information on the upcoming spring seminar on code updates, a schedule of board and council meetings, Plumbing Board interpretation on wet vent requirements and more.

News from National 

NAHB continues to raise concerns about cluster mailbox requirements

The US Postal Service (USPS) preferred centralized delivery system is cluser mailboxes, for this system, USPS will deliver mail for all homes in a neighborhood to a centralized location, containing a unit with boxes for individual addresses. A recent case heard by the Supreme Court highlighted the issues that this method can create, especially for landlord-tenant situations and access.

Because the Supreme Court ruled that residents cannot sue the USPS even when mail is intentionally withheld, property owners and tenants may direct complaints or lawsuits toward developers who instealled the boxes or the HOAs that maintain them. 

NAHB continues to urge the USPS to allow the option of curbside or sidewalk delivery in residential developments to lessen these issues.

Read more here.

President Trump's March 13 Executive Orders Help Ease Housing Affordability Crisis

The two executive orders signed by President Trump include removing regulatory barriers and providing better access to mortgage credit.  

The order on regulatory barriers calls for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and US Army Corps of Engineers to support federal permitting reforms for residential construction under wetlands and stormwater requirements. It also calls on the chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality to issue guidance on categorical exclusions under the national Environmental Policy Act for housing construction.

The order for mortgage credit directs federal banking regulators to make it easier for home buyers and builders to access credit by encouraging more flexible construction lending, modernizing appraisal rules, supporting the ability for construction lending by community banks and to expand options for small home builders and more.

For a full list of key changes, click here.