Howe, Senate Pass Significant Agriculture, Broadband, and Housing Package to Help Minnesotans Compete in the Modern Economy

The Minnesota Senate today passed a significant Agriculture, Broadband, and Housing bill to help Minnesota farmers and families. The legislation works to expand broadband funding, addresses urgent concerns in our agriculture sector and improves access to affordable housing. 

Included language also helps farmers combat the ongoing Avian influenza outbreak by appropriating $500,000 to the agricultural emergency account to be used for avian influenza testing supplies. Additionally, included is $350,000 for the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Minnesota for equipment to test for chronic wasting disease (CWD), African swine fever, avian influenza, and other animal diseases. 

“Minnesotans across the state deserve access to affordable housing and reliable internet, and those two issues are the cornerstone of this legislation,”said Senator Jeff Howe (R-Rockville). “Broadband expansion in rural Minnesota is vitally important for our state’s economic development, as is addressing the housing crisis through targeted investments. Today’s bill also makes targeted investments in our agricultural industries, to help farmers that have suffered through drought conditions and the recent spread of avian influenza. This bill makes smart investments that help families and farmers across the state.” 

Other notable provisions in the bill include: 

  • Funding to offset lost revenue for Minnesota deer farmers impacted by the banning of deer movement by the Department of Natural Resources
  • Provides historic funding up to $210 million of federal money to further expand broadband across the state
  • $35 million investment in the Homeownership Investment Grants Program to increase affordable home ownership
  • $10 million in funding for the Workforce Homeownership Program to increase the supply of workforce and affordable, owner-occupied housing
  • Preventing the governor from issuing any executive order that prohibits or delays evictions for more than 30 days unless an extension to the order is approved by a majority vote of each house of the legislature
  • Prohibiting local governments from enacting rent control policies on private residential properties, retroactive to November 1, 2021