HBA Advocacy Update

North Dakota Legislative Wrap-Up is TODAY!

We are co-hosting a legislative wrap-up with the FMWF Chamber of Commerce this evening (June 13) from 4 - 5:30 p.m. You can still attend virtually if you did not register for in-person attendance. 

Panelists include:

N.D. Sen. Ronald Sorvaag
N.D. Sen. Kristin Roers
N.D. Rep. Steve Swiontek
N.D. Rep Karla Rose Hanson
N.D. Rep. Austen Schauer 

Follow this link for more information.

Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry News

Click here to read the news from June, 2023. 

NAHB Spring Leadership Conference

Last week HBA of F-M leadership traveled to Washington D.C. and met with U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer and U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong. 

We focused on three main areas in addition to housing affordability:

1. Electrical distribution transformers. 

• We urged our congressional delegation to oppose efforts made by the Department of Energy to increase energy conservation standards as it will put even more pressure on supply chain shortages.

2. Energy Codes

• We also discussed energy codes and the adoption of the 2021 version. We are opposed as it will increase costs, add more restrictions and limit options for the consumer. 

3. Workforce Development

• With the many workforce issues that our members experience, we advocated for greater investment into programs that would help ease problems, including reauthorizing the Workplace Innovation and Opportunity Act and fully funding the Job Corps program. 

News from NAHB

47 Bipartisan Senators Call for Action on Transformers

Senators sent a letter to Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm to not move forward on a Department of Energy proposed rule to regulate energy conservation standards for distribution transformers. If enacted, it would worsen an already severe supply chain shortage. 

The proposed rule would require manufacturers to increase the efficiency of transformers by a tenth of a percentage point. That would then require a different type of steel which would add more months on to the already long wait times. 

Read the article here.

NAHB, Builders Score Big Win in SCOTUS Decision on WOTUS

In late May, the Supreme court made a decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency that will make the Biden administration overhaul its Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule and give builders more certainty regarding the federal permit process. 

With 27 states already not implementing the rule, likely they will need to determine a WOTUS rule that can be applicable to all states. 

For more details, click here. 

Minnesota OSHA Changes

OECS OSHA + Environmental Compliance Systems recently provided an update regarding Minnesota OSHA changes, including an increase in penalty amounts to conform with federal amounts. 

Read all of the updates here.