The Minnesota Senate Committee on Housing and Homelessness prevention on Tuesday heard a bill authored by Sen. Rich Draheim (R-Madison Lake) that would create a pilot grant program to help municipalities pay for housing infrastructure costs.

“Between inflationary costs and onerous regulations, the affordable housing market is getting squeezed,” Draheim said. “If we can pay part of the infrastructure costs associated with building new affordable housing units in some of these cities where they wouldn’t ordinarily go, it will benefit everyone. It is a good, bipartisan idea, and I am glad to have the committee’s support.”

The grants will be limited to 16 housing units in participating municipalities.