Committee adopts amendment to HF2013 to limit municipal aesthetic mandates; bill referred to government operations

The House Committee on Housing Finance and Policy voted to adopt the DE3 amendment to House File 20‑13 and referred the bill, as amended, to the Government Operations and Elections Committee.

Representative Paul Nash, the bill author, told the committee the measure would curb local “aesthetic mandate” requirements — such as mandated brick, stone façades, specific siding, extra garages or mandated trees — that he said raise costs without improving structural safety. Nash said Minnesota is undersupplied by “106,000 unit[s]” and argued the bill would help produce more lower‑cost “starter homes.”

Mark Foster, vice president of legislative and political affairs for Housing First Minnesota, testified in support, calling many aesthetic requirements “economic redlining” and saying they can add as much as $20,000 to the cost of a new house. Foster told the committee those kinds of exterior requirements do not affect safety and said building codes already protect safety and energy efficiency.

Jill Hudmacher, director of community development for the city of Eagan, testified on behalf of the League of Minnesota Cities, Metro Cities and the Municipal Legislative Commission. Hudmacher said some language in the bill — notably broad phrases like “architectural elements” — could be interpreted in ways that invite litigation and could limit legitimate local standards such as visual relief on long multifamily facades. She thanked the bill author for narrowing the bill’s scope but urged continued engagement with cities.

Committee members asked whether homeowners would still be able to choose upgraded exteriors; Nash and witnesses said yes — the bill would prevent cities from requiring those elements but would not bar homeowners or builders from adding them voluntarily. Members also raised related housing design questions (split level, slab‑on‑grade) and were told those items are outside HF2013’s focus on exterior aesthetic requirements.

After discussion, the committee adopted the DE3 amendment (voice vote) and approved the motion to refer HF20‑13, as amended, to government operations and elections (voice vote).

The bill’s supporters framed it as one piece of a larger package to increase modest, lower‑cost home production. Municipal representatives warned the committee to preserve clear local authority to ensure public health, safety and pedestrian design where appropriate. The committee moves HF20‑13 forward for further consideration in the referred committees.