APA Minnesota Legislative Committee

Senate Committee Meetings

Week of Feb 22

Summaries of Two Key House Committee Meetings

TIF and Complete Streets

Meetings held the week of February 15, 2010

REMINDERS:

A reminder for those who are interested in “Complete Streets”, HF 2801 is being heard on Thursday, February 25, at 4:30 p.m. in Room 10 of the State Office Building.

There are also a couple of items of potential interest to planners this week to highlight:  

GREEN BUILDING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
On Thursday, February 25, at 3 p.m. in Room 123 of the Capitol, the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications will hear SF2720, which establishes green energy revenue bonds issuance authority for qualified green building and sustainable design projects. A section is added regarding design and eligibility requirements (tied to LEED or Minnesota GreenStar). The bill also enables cities and counties to participate in on-site conservation and renewable energy improvements through local assessments authority (including using port authorities, EDAs, industrial development authorities, and HRAs). The Chair of the House Finance Committee has referred companion bill HF3109 to the Energy Finance and Policy Division. No hearing date has been published.

HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION ROUTING   On the same day, the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities, Technology and Communications will also consider SF 2589, which requires the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to establish a process with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to provide high voltage transmission line utilization preference priority to routes that will allow the PUC utilize to the greatest extent on existing utility corridors and highway or railway right-of-way. Its companion, HF3125, is in the House Energy Finance and Policy Division. No hearing date has been published.

SENATE COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHTS OF POTENTIAL INTEREST TO PLANNERS FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 15, 2010  

During the week of February 15, the Minnesota Senate Finance Committee received a bill that proposes to target tax benefits for job growth. During the same week, the Senate Transportation Committee heard from Congressman James Oberstar about transportation, jobs, and the economy.  

TAX INCENTIVES FOR JOB GROWTH CONSIDERED  

Senate File 2568 was introduced on February 11 and was referred to the Committee on Business, Industry and Jobs. The bill is now contained in SF2167 and is awaiting action in the Senate Finance Committee.  

The House version, HF2695, was introduced on February 4 is under consideration by the House Taxes Committee.

Last week, the House Taxes Committee heard testimony from local government representatives and representatives from the development community relating to targeting tax increment provisions for job growth that are under consideration.  

On February 16, the Minnesota Senate Economic Development and Housing Budget Division passed SF2167 with amendments. The bill is awaiting action by to the Finance Committee.

The amended language may be located at the following link:   http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/display_select_committee_amendment.php?ls=&id=156  

The bill authorizes cities to finance on-site conservation and renewable energy improvements with special assessments and to issue revenue bonds for qualified green building and sustainable design projects.  

Article 1, Section 11 also extends tax increment duration limits and the time period of building permits by one year for economic development projects or subdivisions that have been approved and have not expired before the bill is enacted into law. The permit grantee would also be required to notify the grantor in writing of the status of the economic development project or subdivision approved every 90 days from the effective date and no less than 90 days in advance of the initiation of construction.  

Article 2 provides a 25 percent income tax credit to an angel investor or an angel investor fund that invests in a Minnesota small business engaged in high technology or green manufacturing.  

Article 3 provides a 25 percent tax credit for the cost of rehabilitation of a certified historic structure or a structure in a certified historic district that is used for residential or business purposes.  

Article 4 provides a 25 percent credit against insurance premium tax liability to Minnesota Certified Capital Companies (CAPCO) that invest in certain Minnesota businesses.

The summary of the 2nd Engrossment of the bill may be found at the link below:   http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/departments/scr/billsumm/summary_display.php?ls=86&session=regular&body=Senate&billtype=S.F.&billnumber=2167&ss_year=2010

The 2nd Engrossment of the bill may be found at the link below: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S2167.2.html&session=ls86  

The Revisor’s recorded bill status is located on the web at: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/revisor/pages/search_status/status_detail.php?b=Senate&f=SF2167&ssn=0&y=2010

CONGRESSMAN OBERSTAR DISCUSSES THE ECONOMY, JOBS, ARRA, AND TRANSPORTATION  

On February 18, Congressman James Oberstar, chair of the U.S. House Transportation Committee, addressed the Senate Transportation Committee, discussing the state of the economy, jobs, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act projects, and the federal role in transportation investments, including the high-speed rail initiative, and aviation and airport finance.

Congressman Oberstar’s appearance before the committee is a featured segment of “Capitol Report”, a weekly public affairs video program, produced by Senate Media Services.

The video is available online at: http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/media/index.php?ls=&sid=154  

Congressman Oberstar’s presentation is also available in audio for downloading through Senate Media Services at http://stream1.video.state.mn.us:8080/ramgen/Senateaudio/cmte_trans_021810.MP3 .

2010 Approved Work Plan              APA Minnesota Policy Platform
 

Come and join the Legislative Committee at their next meeting!

See the above agenda or call for more details.