Committee backs bill to give Minnesota school districts flexibility on ICC 500 storm‑shelter requirements

Senate File 3750, presented by Senator Kunish in the Senate Labor Committee, would modify Minnesota’s building code rules so that many school projects would not be automatically required to construct ICC 500‑standard storm shelters; proponents told the committee the current trigger (an occupant load increase of 50 or more in group E educational occupancies in many southern counties) can add substantial costs and design constraints to otherwise modest additions.

School officials and associations provided multiple examples of added expense and construction complexity. Doug Storbeck, a superintendent, said his district’s $8.7 million bond included roughly $500,000 for a storm shelter and argued tornadoes in Minnesota "nearly 75%" occur when schools are not in session. Tracy Fierke, speaking for the Minnesota Rural Education Association and MASBO, estimated storm‑shelter construction adds about $150 per square foot and cited projects where shelter‑related code requirements increased costs by roughly $1.1 million to $1.3 million. Ron Pagel, a school board member, said a recent $27 million project faced more than $3 million in additional construction and engineering costs due to storm‑shelter requirements and that design limitations constrained how spaces could be used.

Architects and independent schools urged careful drafting to balance safety and cost. Sherry Hansen of the American Institute of Architects Minnesota recommended refining the bill to account for factors like size of addition, construction cost relative to existing building value, and whether structural modifications are involved. Anne Weiss of the Minnesota Association of Independent Schools said many independent schools already use interior designated shelters and comprehensive emergency plans and supported allowing flexibility.

Greg Metz, the state building official at the Department of Labor and Industry, explained the technical difference between typical Minnesota design standards and ICC 500: most new construction in Minnesota is designed for lateral wind forces around 95 mph, while ICC 500 storm shelters are designed to a 250 mph standard; the ICC 500 provisions were incorporated when the 2018 International Building Code was adopted into the Minnesota Building Code and the state enumerated the affected counties. DLI legislative director Josiah Moore told the committee DLI had no formal position at the hearing.

Committee members expressed a mix of support for local control and caution about safety. Senator Kubeck, a meteorologist, warned tornadoes can and do strike schools at unexpected times; other members emphasized trust in local emergency protocols. Senator Liske moved the bill be recommended to pass and sent to the Committee on State and Local Government; the committee approved the recommendation by voice vote.