HF141 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Purposes, processes, and related agency responsibilities modified for the sustainable building guidelines; sustainable building guideline compliance added to predesign requirements; report required; and money appropriated.

Related bill: SF1493

AI Generated Summary

The legislative bill aims to enhance the sustainability and efficiency of buildings in Minnesota by updating the sustainable building guidelines for state constructions. These updates focus on:

  1. Development and Maintenance of Guidelines: The Departments of Administration and Commerce are tasked with creating guidelines ensuring new state buildings and major renovations exceed existing energy codes by at least 30%, promoting environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.

  2. Definition and Scope: The bill defines terms such as "capital project," "major renovation," and "new building," setting clear standards for which constructions these guidelines apply.

  3. Guideline Objectives: Objectives include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving indoor environments for occupant health and comfort, promoting water conservation, enhancing biodiversity, decreasing the environmental impact of materials, and designing buildings to adapt to climate change.

  4. Mandatory Compliance: These guidelines are mandatory for all new buildings and major renovations funded by state bond proceeds or the general fund starting from specific dates.

  5. Roles and Responsibilities: The commissioner of administration, in collaboration with other stakeholders, is responsible for overseeing the implementation and periodic revision of these guidelines. The Center for Sustainable Building Research (CSBR) will play a key role in maintaining the guidelines, providing training, tracking compliance, and evaluating performance.

  6. Annual Reporting: The commissioner of administration must provide annual reports to relevant legislative committees, detailing the compliance status of projects, impacts of the guidelines, and progress towards sustainability goals.

Overall, the bill is designed to make state buildings in Minnesota more sustainable, cost-effective, and adaptable to future environmental conditions, while setting standards for achievable and measurable progress towards these goals.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 09, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toState Government Finance and Policy
February 12, 2025HouseFloorActionAuthors added