Senate committee declines A1 amendment to statewide zoning reform after hours of testimony

A proposed A1 amendment to House File 2309 that would limit some local land-use rules failed on a roll call in the Minnesota Senate State and Local Government Committee on Thursday, May 1, after more than an hour of testimony from builders, municipal officials and housing advocates.

The amendment was moved at the start of the hearing; the committee recorded five ayes, six noes and one pass and the chair announced, “There being 5 ayes and 6 noes and 1 pass, the amendment is not adopted.”

Committee authors and supporters said the narrower “DE” amendment before the panel seeks to reduce costs and speed approvals for new homes by limiting homeowners association mandates, capping parking at one space per residential unit in many projects, prohibiting certain local aesthetic mandates and directing cities to create clearer administrative approval processes. “This DE ends some HOA restrictions by preventing local governments from requiring homeowners associations and adding unnecessary features which require common management,” Senator Port said in the bill introduction. Senator Rasmussen, a co‑author, described the package as “pro property rights” and framed it as a market‑based response to…