Minnesota Legislature forms new housing committees.

With a renewed bipartisan and bi-cameral interest in housing policy, the Minnesota state legislature created two new housing committees for 2021. With this legislative session expected to be a very active one, these committees will be ones to watch for issues that impact homeownership and housing in Minnesota.

In the Republican-controlled Senate, Sen. Rich Draheim of Madison Lake, will chair the newly formed Housing Finance and Policy Committee. Draheim had previously chaired the Senate Select Committee on Home Ownership Affordability and Availability in 2019. 

In the DFL-controlled House of Representatives, the Housing Finance and Policy Committee from the last biennium will continue being chaired by Rep. Alice Hausman of St. Paul. Additionally, DFL leadership has created a new Preventing Homelessness Division chaired by Rep. Aisha Gomez of Minneapolis.

All three committees have begun meeting in the first weeks of session, with presentations from homeownership groups and associations, non-profits, and the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency.