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May 2, 2025
Legislative Update
Dear Friends,
As the legislative session moves forward, I want to update you on two major omnibus bills that passed this week: the Housing Bill and the Commerce Bill. Both packages include meaningful wins for our local communities, including a provision I authored to protect homeowners. While there is still work ahead and some key issues yet to be resolved, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made to bring common-sense, community-driven solutions to the table.
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Housing Bill Delivers for Rural Infrastructure and Affordability
This year’s Housing Omnibus Bill includes a $30 million investment specifically for housing needs in Greater Minnesota, a welcome recognition that our rural communities face unique challenges when it comes to infrastructure and homebuilding capacity.
This funding will support critical infrastructure projects, such as roads, sewer, and utilities, that are necessary to prepare sites for new housing. Without these foundational investments, housing development in small towns simply doesn’t happen. The bill also includes $10 million for the state’s Challenge Program, which helps fund the construction and renovation of affordable housing statewide. This program is open to all applicants and will help fill housing gaps in fast-growing or underserved communities.
Another $4 million is dedicated to improving infrastructure in manufactured home parks, an important source of affordable housing. These grants will help ensure that growing communities can maintain safe and reliable housing options for working families and seniors alike.
Importantly, this bill does not include any new landlord-tenant mandates, a key concern for property owners in our region. It maintains the balance between tenant protections and the rights of landlords to manage their properties without unnecessary regulatory burdens.
I also supported the removal of race-based eligibility in certain housing programs. This change ensures that all housing resources are available to everyone, regardless of race or background, and reinforces the principle that government assistance should be based on need, not identity.
One of the strongest aspects of the bill is its prioritization of rental assistance dollars toward the Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program, which counties across Minnesota have long supported as one of the most effective tools to prevent housing instability.
Protecting Homeowners in the Commerce Bill
The Commerce Omnibus Bill passed this week also includes HF 2014, a bill I authored to modernize and strengthen protections for homeowners.
Under current law, lenders must provide notice when a borrower is in default on a mortgage. However, communication requirements have not kept pace with how people interact with banks today. My bill updates the law to allow written default notices to be sent either by mail or electronically, depending on what the borrower and lender agree upon in writing. It also clarifies what information must be included in the notice, such as the reason for default, steps to resolve the issue, and timelines for reinstating the mortgage before foreclosure proceedings can begin.
By ensuring borrowers receive clear, timely, and accessible information, this bill helps homeowners avoid foreclosure and provides more time to resolve issues before they escalate. It’s a common-sense change that puts fairness and transparency first.
Local Visitors
 Lots of smiles here at the Capitol from Barnum Elementary School.
 Great coffee and conversation in Cloquet & Moose Lake while meeting with some amazing folks from our community.
 Great to have John deCausmeaker, the official national anthem singer for the Minnesota Wild, after he performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the opening of the April 24 floor session.
The Wild played their first home game of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs the same night, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2.
 Great meeting with constituencies here at the Capital along with American's for Prosperity.
As we enter the final two weeks of session, there’s still a lot of work left to be done. Some important bills like Education, Workforce and Labor, Energy, and Health, still have provisions to be negotiated. One thing remains clear, we I will keep pushing for bills that are common sense and balance the budget without passing along costs to you. I’ll continue to keep you updated as negotiations move forward.
Have a great weekend,
Jeff
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