BIA Advocacy Update
Vote in ND's Primary Election June 9, BIA co-hosts candidate events with FMWF Chamber, BIA CEO Attends Washington, D.C. Fly-In with the FMWF Chamber, MN Legislative Session Ends and more
North Dakota's Primary Election is June 9!
BIA-RRV encourages you to make a plan to vote in local elections!
Click here to access an election resource webpage designed for you that includes voting information, BIA endorsements, candidate forum recordings and more.
Early voting runs from June 2-6, click here for a list of polling locations in Cass County, ND.
BIA co-hosts candidate events with FMWF Chamber of Commerce
In addition to the BIA's own candidate forums, the Association partnered with the Chamber to host debates for Fargo City Commission and West Fargo City Commission candidates May 11-12.
View the recordings here to see candidate's replies to questions about our communities and issues impacting businesses.
BIA CEO Attends Washington, D.C. Fly-In with the FMWF Chamber
Building Industry Association CEO Bryce Johnson recently participated in the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber's annual Washington, D.C. Fly-In, joining business and community leaders from across the region.
During the three-day event, attendees met with members of Congress, federal agencies and key stakeholders to advocate for issues impacting regional growth and economic vitality. Discussions focused on priorities such as workforce, housing, energy, agriculture, immigration, taxes and military investment.
Attending events like these help keep housing and construction part of the broader economic conversation, reinforcing their role as key drivers of regional growth and stability. Bringing that perspective into federal discussions helps ensure policy decisions reflect the real needs of communities like ours.
Above (left to right): Sandi Piatz, United Way of Cass-Clay; Bryce Johnson, BIA-RRV; Shirley Hughes, Visit Fargo-Moorhead and Shannon Full, FMWF Chamber.
Minnesota Legislative Session Ended May 17
The 2026 Minnesota Legislative Session convened on Feb.17 and adjourned May 17.
A few items of note for the industry and our region include:
Bonding Bill
Lawmakers passed an approximately $1.2 billion capital investment package, funding infrastructure priorities across Minnesota.
Regional impact includes $10 million for City of Moorhead / Clay County Joint Powers Authority which supports flood mitigation and stormwater infrastructure tied to the FM Diversion project.
This investment is expected to leverage additional federal and local funding.
Housing Finance & Policy
The Legislature approved a $165 million housing package aimed at expanding housing supply and affordability, which includes:
- $25 million from interest earnings at Minnesota Housing for programs, including:
- $14.3 million for workforce housing in Greater Minnesota
- $150,000 for a homeownership education program
- $4 million for supportive housing programs
- $4 million for manufactured home infrastructure grants
- $425,000 for statewide tenant education and hotline services
The housing bill also includes a provision supported by the BIA which establishes a Housing Fees & Taxes Task Force with the assignment to study regulatory cost drivers in housing development, evaluate the impact of fees and taxes on affordability, and recommend legislative or administrative changes.
North Dakota Energy Codes Collaborative Meets June 16
The next quarterly meeting will be held from 9-11 a.m. on June 16 over Zoom. They will discuss the 2024 IECC and compliance paths with guest speaker, Paula Zimin.
The North Dakota Energy Code Collaborative facilitates energy code compliance by establishing a cooperative network between all construction industry stakeholders, creating informational resources for the building industry, and educating the public on the importance and benefits of energy codes. The Collaborative serves as a neutral, open forum to foster a collaborative effort to improve energy code compliance. We strive to ensure that community members and stakeholders have the knowledge and tools needed to develop more efficient, resilient, and healthy buildings in North Dakota Communities.
BIA Staff and Leadership Head to Washington for NAHB Legislative Conference
Next month, staff and members of the Association will travel to Washington, D.C., to participate in the National Association of Home Builders Spring Leadership Meeting and Legislative Conference, June 9-13.
Joining fellow industry leaders from across the country, including representatives from the North Dakota Association of Builders, they will participate in NAHB’s premier advocacy event. The Legislative Conference, often referred to as the “Day on the Hill,” brings hundreds of housing professionals to Capitol Hill for meetings with members of Congress and their staff.
The conference is a key opportunity to share firsthand insight into the challenges facing the residential and light commercial construction industry and to emphasize the critical role they play in local and national economies.
Throughout the day, attendees participate in policy briefings before heading to scheduled meetings with lawmakers to discuss issues such as housing affordability, workforce shortages, regulatory barriers and energy policy.
This year's priorities include:
- The Housing Bill
- Workforce Development and Immigration
- Permitting Reform
- Natural Gas
Held in conjunction with NAHB’s Spring Leadership Meeting, the event also includes committee meetings, advocacy sessions and networking opportunities that help shape the direction of the industry at a national level.
News from National: House Approves Revised Housing Bill in Major Win for NAHB
The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved an amendment to the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act that removes a build-to-rent sales provision which, in its original form, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) argued would have reduced housing supply and negatively impacted affordability.
NAHB advocated for removal of the provision, noting that analysis from NAHB and the Urban Institute projected it would reduce rental supply to approximately 72,000 units annually, a decline of roughly 40,000 units. The provision also would have displaced thousands of tenants each year.
Build-to-rent remains one of the few market segments that adds new housing inventory that otherwise would likely not have been built.
Read more here.
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