Transcript Highlights:

• So overall, the bill before us today will create a revolving loan fund at MHFA, which is accessible to
• revolving<00:46:22.240> Loan<00:46:22.480> Fund<00:46:22.800> at<00:46:23.119> mhfa
• <00:46:24.119> which<00:46:24.240> is revolving Loan Fund at mhfa which is revolving
• Loan Fund at mhfa which is accessible<00:46:24.880> to<00:46:25.040> local<00:46:25.319

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Neutral to the bottom line, this bill expands and uses an existing $9 million fund at MHFA, originally
• And yes, as you said, and I think MHFA too should, if they get it to us, we'll make sure the whole committee

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• guess one question, or a narrower set of new programs, were things that were passed through, you know, MHFA
• guess one question, or a narrower set of new programs, were things that were passed through, you know, MHFA
• <01:10:23.120> were<01:10:23.480> you<01:10:23.600> know<01:10:23.920> mhfa
• through um where we were you know mhfa through um where we were you know mhfa was<01:10:24.800><

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met for an agency overview from Minnesota Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho. After member and staff introductions, Ho described Minnesota Housing’s mission, structure, and role as a mission-driven financial institution that issues bonds, uses earnings to support operations, and works across the housing continuum from homelessness prevention to homeownership and preservation. She emphasized that the agency is not a builder or regulator, but funds and partners with developers, local governments, nonprofits, and lenders. She also noted the agency’s four divisions, including a new local government housing programs division created after the 2023 legislative session expanded the agency’s responsibilities. Ho reviewed funding and program activity, saying Minnesota Housing spent $1.96 billion in fiscal year 2024 and helped more than 73,000 households. She highlighted that the agency’s work is heavily competitive and often oversubscribed, with many projects selected through RFPs and grants but more applications than available resources. She discussed 2023 and 2024 investments, including homeownership, rental, and manufactured housing projects, and said roughly half of competitive dollars have gone to Greater Minnesota over the last several years. She also explained the difference between funds committed and funds actually disbursed, noting that construction and rehabilitation projects can take many months to close and draw down funds. The commissioner also updated members on new programs created in 2023 and 2024, including first-generation down payment assistance, the Greater Minnesota Workforce Housing Development Program, public housing rehabilitation, state housing tax credits, and other local and regional initiatives. She said some programs are already closed out, while others remain in early implementation or are still accepting applications. Ho mentioned a forthcoming technical amendment to adjust a high-rise sprinkler program after eligibility issues limited participation. She closed with examples of projects preserved or funded, including a St. Louis Park preservation deal, public housing preservation in Greater Minnesota, a St. Cloud challenge project, and the first-generation down payment assistance program, which distributed $50 million to about 1,450 first-time buyers, most of whom were Black, Indigenous, or people of color. No votes or formal committee actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, that would be through MHFA for a statewide tenant education hotline.
• Um that would be through<01:24:32.800> MHFA<01:24:34.000> for<01:24:34.239> a<01
• :24:34.400> statewide<01:24:34.800> tenant through MHFA for a statewide tenant through
• MHFA for a statewide tenant education<01:24:35.679> hotline.

Bills: HF3425, HF3424, HF1385

Keywords: supportive housing, grants, housing assistance, funding, Minnesota Statutes, eviction, rent, nonpayment of rent, landlord-tenant, residential tenant, notice to quit, unlawful detainer, housing, lease violation, late fees, rental assistance, legal aid, tenant rights, Minnesota Statutes 504B.321, pre-eviction notice

Transcript Highlights:

• The only MHFA program that finances conversion is the Housing Infrastructure Bond program, but there
• The only MHFA program that finances conversion is the Housing Infrastructure Bond program, but there
• The only MHFA program that finances conversion is the Housing Infrastructure Bond program, but there
• The only MHFA program that finances conversion is the Housing Infrastructure Bond program, but there

Bills: HF1277, HF812, HF457, HF633

Keywords: data centers, tax exemption, Minnesota statutes, economic development, employment growth, income tax, tax brackets, tax adjustments, Minnesota, tax policy, underutilized buildings, adaptive reuse, building conversion, historic preservation, downtown revitalization, vacant property, vacancy reduction, refundable tax credit, income tax credit, grant in lieu of credit

Bills: SF1959, HF2444, SF2298, HF2445, SF2216, HF2443, HF2130, HF1943, HF2436, HF2442

Keywords: veterans, military affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Military Affairs, omnibus veterans bill, appropriations, National Guard, state active service, armory, State Armory Building Commission, veterans homes, veterans cemeteries, county veterans service office, Minnesota GI Bill, Gold Star families, Blue Star families, Secret War in Laos, Hmong veterans, Laos veterans, special guerrilla units

Bills: SF1959, HF2444, SF2298, HF2445, SF2216, HF2443, HF2130, HF1943, HF2436, HF2442

Keywords: veterans, military affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Military Affairs, omnibus veterans bill, appropriations, National Guard, state active service, armory, State Armory Building Commission, veterans homes, veterans cemeteries, county veterans service office, Minnesota GI Bill, Gold Star families, Blue Star families, Secret War in Laos, Hmong veterans, Laos veterans, special guerrilla units

Transcript Highlights:

• Yet, our MHFA contract is consistently funded only a small portion of renters who rely on our hotline
• <01:20:25.160> PHP<01:20:25.560> providers,<01:20:26.400> to<01:20:27.040> MHFA
• 28.840> and<01:20:29.000> really And so, huge thank you to, you know, FHPHP providers, to MHFA

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The conference committee on the housing omnibus bill began with member introductions and a staff walk-through comparing House and Senate provisions. House Research staff reviewed major policy differences affecting Minnesota Housing Finance Agency operations, including limits on how much the agency may retain from state appropriations for administrative costs, new reporting requirements, restrictions on transfers between appropriated accounts, and House-only language requiring annual expenditure of investment income from state appropriations. Senate provisions were also summarized, including tighter rules on when appropriations may be placed into Housing Development Fund bookkeeping accounts, updated operating-cost reporting, and Senate-only changes to how investment earnings may be used. Staff also described shared and differing provisions on program-money transfers, a lived-experience earnings exemption, and a long list of Senate-only policy changes, including manufactured home park tenant protections, low-income housing tax credit and bond-related changes, a task force on housing taxes and fees, and repealers affecting Housing Development Fund authority and certain older programs. Fiscal staff then reviewed the budget impacts. The House side included one-time appropriations for workforce housing development, family homeless prevention and assistance, a Minnesota Nice Home Share pilot, and homebuyer education, along with debt service for $100 million in housing infrastructure bonds and transfers/cancellations that produced a net zero general fund impact across the budget window. The Senate side noted a fiscal note for the housing taxes and fees task force and a smaller housing infrastructure bond authorization, with corresponding debt service costs and a total Senate budget-window impact of about $1 million in general fund debt service. After the staff presentations, the committee moved to public testimony. Commissioner Jennifer Ho of Minnesota Housing said the bill’s housing infrastructure bonds and continued support for family homeless prevention were important, and she supported the lived-experience earnings exemption, while noting concerns about the interest-earnings provisions. Testifiers from Greater Minnesota groups praised the workforce housing investments and Senate updates to the state housing tax credit and infrastructure grant program, though they suggested changes to the geographic distribution language. HOME Line urged funding for statewide tenant hotline services, citing rising demand and asking for $1 million if additional money becomes available. The Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers supported the bill’s investments and emphasized the need to pair housing development with supportive services. Housing First Minnesota praised housing infrastructure bonds and other investments but criticized the omission of the Minnesota Starter Homes Act. The Minnesota Multi Housing Association began testimony opposing certain rent-control-related provisions in the House bill. No votes or final actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• having a little heartburn that, uh, this isn't moving through those, especially with the tie into MHFA
• through those especially with the tie through those especially with the tie into<00:33:45.919> MHFA
• 47.200> well<00:33:47.600> this<00:33:47.840> bill<00:33:48.080> isn't into MHFA
• but well this bill isn't into MHFA but well this bill isn't changing<00:33:49.600> the<00:33:

Bills: HF3217, HF2252

Keywords: bioindustrial facilities, economic development, renewable energy, advanced biofuels, state funding, HF2252, Minnesota bonding, volume cap, private activity bonds, tax-exempt bonds, public facility bonds, public facilities pool, unified pool, bond allocation, municipal finance, bond cap, housing bonds, residential rental projects, manufacturing bonds, enterprise zone bonds

Summary: The committee first approved the prior day’s minutes as amended, correcting the meeting number from the 46th to the 45th meeting. It then took up House File 3217, which would restore funding for the Minnesota Bioincentive Program. Representative Kisha argued the state should honor commitments made to companies that met program requirements and had not received full reimbursement. Testifiers from the Great Plains Institute and Minnesota Biofuels Association said the program has supported bioeconomy investment, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and generated strong economic returns, but has been underfunded, leaving unpaid claims. Members raised questions about whether the bill was retrospective and whether it should be reviewed by another committee; the bill was laid over for further consideration without a vote. The committee then heard House File 2252, a proposal to modernize Minnesota’s private activity bond volume cap by shifting unused allocation from the small issuer/manufacturing bucket to the public facilities bucket while leaving the overall cap unchanged. The bill’s public finance testifier said the current allocation formula is outdated, housing would remain the top priority, and the change would be budget neutral. Testifiers from the Minnesota Milk Producers Association and Minnesota Biofuels Association supported the bill, saying it would better align financing with rural infrastructure, clean water, manure management, renewable natural gas, dairy processing, and low-carbon fuel projects, and could lower borrowing costs for those sectors. Members questioned whether the bill fit the committee’s jurisdiction and noted it might be more appropriate for another committee; the bill was also laid over for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• takes the $9 million that is currently in the supportive housing fund that we funded for MHF through MHFA
• housing fund that we funded for uh MHF housing fund that we funded for uh MHF through<00:19:23.280> MHFA
• 25.360> This<00:19:25.520> is<00:19:25.600> the<00:19:25.840> $9 through MHFA
• This is the $9 through MHFA in 2023.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then that same $66.5 million is then appropriated to MHFA and used to reimburse landlords for lost income
• to<01:07:05.280> MHF<01:07:05.839> back<01:07:06.000> to<01:07:06.440> MHFA
• <01:07:07.440> and appropriated to MHF back to MHFA and appropriated to MHF back to MHFA and

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• let's<00:45:25.760> take<00:45:26.720> DLI<00:45:27.359> and<00:45:28.119> MHFA
• So, let's take DLI and MHFA as an Chair.
• So, let's take DLI and MHFA as an example.<00:45:30.720> through<00:45:31.200> the<00:45
• So, let's take DLI and MHFA as an example.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• 25% to a Metro City Aid account, 50% to a Metro County Aid account, and then the remaining 25% to MHFA
• 25% to a Metro City Aid account, 50% to a Metro County Aid account, and then the remaining 25% to MHFA
• cities with a population of over 10,000 are eligible to receive this aid. ...and the remaining 25% to MHFA

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Tax Committee met to receive a presentation from House Fiscal staff Cynthia Templin and Katrina Heimark on state tax revenues, property tax aids and credits, and key budget terms and timelines. They explained the difference between fiscal years, tax years, biennia, the general fund, and dedicated funds, and reviewed the legislative budget calendar, including the governor’s January budget recommendation, the February forecast update, March budget resolution deadlines, and the expected end of session in May. The presentation focused on how Minnesota tax revenue is collected and where it goes. House Fiscal said fiscal 2024 total revenue for public services was about $102.5 billion, with $46.5 billion coming from state and local taxes. Of total state tax revenue, about 85% goes to the general fund and about 15% is dedicated to other funds. They noted that income and sales taxes make up the largest share of state collections, while local property taxes are the largest share of local revenue. They also reviewed constitutional and statutory dedications, including the Legacy sales tax dedication, the motor vehicle sales tax dedication to transportation, and the auto parts sales tax dedication that was changed in 2023 to a 100% transportation dedication phased in over 10 years. Members asked several questions about slowing income tax growth, possible effects of migration and corporate departures, and whether changes in population or wages were affecting revenue trends. Templin said she was not aware of recent independent or MMB studies tying revenue loss to migration, but would look into it. Members also discussed the sharp rise in tax receipts in fiscal 2021 and 2022 after the pandemic downturn, with staff explaining that the low fiscal 2020 base and a shift toward goods purchases during COVID helped drive the increase, especially in sales tax revenue. No bills were taken up and no votes were recorded during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, overall, the bill before us today will create a revolving loan fund at MHFA, which is accessible

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Many thanks to you, to the whole team at MHFA. I think your reference to the Twins was...

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As you can see, the bill before you amends the biennial MHFA appropriation found in Chapter 32 of the
• As you can see, the bill before you amends the biennial MHFA appropriation found in Chapter 32 of the

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That would change the effect of that by changing the entities that [MHFA] could partner with in implementing

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Section one of article three modifies an annual requirement that MHFA send annual letters to manufactured

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriation to the Minnesota Housing and Finance Agency is reduced, and that amount is appropriated to the MHFA

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the agency policy bill, MHFA policy bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all