BAM NEWS

POLITICA NEWS: Attack on MN Home Warranty and Home Building Industry at the State Capitol Continues. SIX New Bills Introduced and Heard This Week.

Last week we saw the builder pay legal fees bill sent directly to the house floor. The week, six new bills were introduced, each chipping away at builder protections in the Minnesota home warranty statute. All six of these new bills are scheduled to be heard this week Friday, February 22 in the newly formed Labor and Consumer Protection Division Committee at 10 am in room 5 of the State Office Building. All of the bills were introduced by freshmen democrats and co-authored by Representative Steve Simon (D-St. Louis Park), a former staff member in the Attorney General’s Office.
Our lobbyist, List Frenette, has been busting her tail to make sure our voice will be heard. We are planning our testimony for tomorrow as you read this e-mail.
A brief summary and link to each of the bills are listed below.
House File 3083: introduced by Representative Knuth (D-New Brighton)
This bill would eliminate the requirement that homeowners put their notice of construction defect in writing. I call this the Great Karnack mental telepathy bill. Bill link: House File 3083
House File 3084: introduced by Representative Scalze (D-Little Canada)
This beauty of a bill would allow the homeowner up to one year to contact the builder or remodeler once damage has been discovered. Currently, the homeowner has up to six months to contact the builders with a report of damage. Bill link: House File 3084
House File 3085: introduced by Representative Laine (D-Columbia Heights)
This bill does not allow a builder to provide an alternative warranty. Bill link: House File 3085
House File 3091: introduced by Representative Gardner (D-Shoreview)
Currently, the warranty statute requires that damages be limited to the amount necessary to remedy the problem. The bill dramatically expands what kind of damages can be recovered in a warranty claim. Basically, it allows for limitless damages. This could really be called the kitchen sink bill. Bill link: House File 3091
House File 3092: introduced by Representative Madore (D-Apple Valley)
Another interesting bill, this would allow the Department of Labor & Industry to continue investigations of a residential building contractor on the grounds that a warranty claim has been made. Well, that’s not so bad. Bill link: House File 3092
House File 3093: introduced by Representative Knuth (D-New Brighton)
This bill allows for the code to be supplemented with structural, mechanical, electrical and quality standards for the geographic area in which the house is built. This could be a nightmare for builders, as it would allow for anyone to develop standards for codes or standards for quality. Bill link: House File 3093
Are you a glutton for punishment and want to read all the bills at once? They are posted on the BAM members only website at http://bamn.org/members/CommGov.cfm or you can download them from this link: All 6 House Files