CMBA Executive Director Testifies in Support of The Starter Home Act at The Capitol

CMBA Executive Director, Wanda Schroeder, testified alongside Minnesota Starter Home Act bill author Rep. Spencer Igo March 2nd during a hearing before the House Housing Committee in St. Paul.  CMBA was the only Greater Minnesota home builders association (HBA) to testify on the bill.  State legislators appear supportive of helping Minnesota take a major step toward solving our housing crisis by advancing the Starter Home Act (HF3895/SF4123).

Schroeder's testimony was well-received by the committee:

"For years, we have heard the increasing alarm from area community and business leaders that we are falling far behind in creating enough new housing to meet area needs, and falling behind in affordability:

• We are literally tens of thousands of units and several years behind just in our area.  We cannot address the housing shortage without building more homes!
  
• Our state’s housing deficit has doubled since 2018. Housing permits have plummeted and are below 2018 levels.
  
• We are the highest cost state in the region for both new and existing housing.
• This has to stop – And policy makers have to stop adding to the problem by piling-on more and more costly regulations and mandates.
  
• Research shows that in the Greater St. Coud area, we lack readily available starter home opportunities.
  
• We need to put the housing needs of Minnesotans above the political needs of government.
  
• Continuing on this path is unsustainable, and will not solve this crisis.
  
• As has been noted in past versions of legislation, this bill is not a fix-all for housing affordability, but it is a solid and important start.
• We cannot address the state’s housing challenges if we don’t get land use right.  These zoning reforms are critical to solving our housing crisis!

CMBA Executive Director, Wanda Schroeder (L) testifies at a hearing on the Starter Home Act at the Minnesota Capitol, while the bill's chief author, Representative Spencer Igo, looks on.

Why this legislation matters: Minnesota needs more than 100,000 new homes to meet demand, but right now, exclusionary zoning rules are making it nearly impossible to build the homes Minnesotans need. The Starter Home Act would change that, and you can CLICK HERE for more details.

The Starter Home Act is designed to bring back entry-level housing by allowing increased density without costly, drawn-out variance processes. This means duplexes and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) would be permitted in residential zones, making it easier for developers to meet rising demand.

CMBA encourages members to take just 30 seconds to look-over and sign the "YES to Homes" petition supporting the Starter Homes Act:  SIGN THE PETITION

The petition shows local legislators you support common-sense housing solutions. CMBA members signing-on can make a real difference!

For more information, contact:  CMBA Government Affairs consultant, Steve Gottwalt, steve@cmbaonline.org, 952-923-5265.

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