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SF1992 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Building applications by government entities procedures for review establishment

Related bill: HF1136

AI Generated Summary

This bill (Senate File No. 1992) proposes amendments to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 15.99, to clarify and establish procedures for government agencies when reviewing building applications.

Key Provisions:

  1. Definitions Update (Subdivision 1)

    • Expands the definition of "agency" to include state government bodies, local municipalities, school districts, and regional entities.
    • Defines "request" as a written application related to building permits, zoning, septic systems, watershed district reviews, and other approvals.
    • Requires written requests to be submitted on agency-provided forms if available; otherwise, they must explicitly state the approval being sought.
    • Introduces "applicant" as the person submitting a request, allowing for a designated representative.

  2. Processing Deadlines (Subdivision 2)

    • An agency must approve or deny a building permit or related request within 60 days.
    • If the agency fails to deny a request within 60 days, the request is automatically approved, except in cases of building permit applications.
    • For building permits, failure to act within 60 days does not result in automatic approval, but the agency must refund all relevant permitting fees within five business days if a decision is late.
    • Agencies must provide written reasons for denial at the time of denial.
    • If a governing body votes against a request without approving a resolution, that action constitutes a denial, and the reasons must be stated on the record.
    • Multimember governing bodies must provide written statements of denial consistent with verbal reasons given during the decision.

Impact:

  • Increases accountability for timely government responses to building-related applications.
  • Prevents automatic approval of building permits but enforces penalty refunds for delayed decisions.
  • Ensures transparency by requiring agencies to provide written justifications for denied applications.

This bill aims to streamline the approval process for building-related requests while ensuring timely responses and accountability from government agencies.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 26, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
February 26, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
February 26, 2025HouseFloorActionReferred toState and Local Government
February 26, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toState and Local Government

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill modifies definitions related to government application procedures under section 15.99.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarification of definitions and terms used in agency requests."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "15.99",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Requirement for refund of permitting fees if action is taken after 60 days."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill modifies the deadlines and procedures for agency responses to government application requests under section 15.99.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarification on the process of denial and associated timelines."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "15.99",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 2"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This legislation references section 462.358, which details exceptions to the 60-day deadline for responses.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "462.358",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3b"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "References section 473.175 as an exception in the timeline for application response.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "473.175",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Sponsors