• It's time to go back to school! We kicked off our first week of BATC-U. Watch video on BATC-U below and register today.
   
• Only 3 weeks until Builder Day at the Capitol! Join us to show our legislators home building matters.
   
• Sprinklers, the Met Council, and attorney fees were all up for discussion during week four of the 2015 legislative session! Check out what you need to know below.
   
• Are you new here? Learn more about BATC and what we have to offer at our next Member Orientation February 12th. Register today.
   
• Honor our Foundation volunteers! Register  today for the February 24th Recognition Luncheon at the Golden Valley Country Club. KARE 11's Belinda Jensen will be our guest speaker!
   
• Need workers? Reserve a booth at this year's 3rd Annual BATC Job and Career Fair at MOA!

We had a great first week of BATC-University! Watch the video above to see what our attendees had to say about it! Classes run through March. Sign-up today!

Week Four at the Legislature has wrapped up. Here’s what you need to know:

1. Sprinkler Chatter Continues  – While the Courts process BATC's request that the MN Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) delay implementation and enforcement of the residential sprinkler mandate and Energy Code, BATC continues to hear from legislators who are expressing interest in solving this issue at the Capitol. This support is bi-partisan in both bodies and there is growing momentum.

2. Proposed Attorneys Fee Bill Tabled, Fails to Advance – Last Tuesday the Senate Judiciary Committee tabled a bill (SF104) that would award attorney fees ONLY to homeowners and not contractors, even if they are the prevailing party. Judiciary Committee chair, Sen. Latz, said it’s possible that the bill will be brought back for a vote in the next two weeks. BATC provided testimony at the hearing in opposition to the policy and will continue to fight this bill.

3. MN House Creates a Met Council Oversight Sub-Committee – The Met Council’s Thrive 2040 planning process has invited calls for Met Council scrutiny from a host of groups including the House GOP. BATC has been a leader in bringing attention to the economic and housing issues inthis planning process. With a new sub-committee created we expect that these issues to get increased scrutiny at the Capitol.

4. Transportation Debate Heating Up – BATC's primary objective in the transportation funding discussions has been to shield new developments from the reach of street improvement impact fees. BATC-negotiated language has been placed in the Senate Transportation Package which protects new developments, and we will continue work to ensure that our language remains.

5. Code Delay and Technical Bill Introduced in House – SF 201 was introduced last week by Sen. John Pederson (R-St. Cloud), and this week fellow CMBA member Rep. Tama Theis (R-St Cloud) introduced its companion, HF 539. BATC supports the bills which could, at some point, include BATC priority to delay the current energy code.

6. Builder Day at the Capitol – Join us on February 18th for the Builder Day at the Capitol! Watch: BATC President Chris Contreras would like to personally invite you to attend.

Read more >>

BATC President Chris Contreras (Ryland Homes) and Public Policy Committee Chair John Rask (Hans Hagen Homes), along with BATC Public Policy Director James Vagle, BATC Executive Director David Siegel, and attorney Peter Coyle, recently met with new Met Council Chair Adam Duininck and Regional Administrator Pat Born, to discuss BATC priorities with the Met Council in its ongoing long-range planning exercises.

The meeting provided a nice opportunity for BATC to share its priorities of maintaining housing affordability and market-driven choices throughout the comprehensive planning process. We look forward to working with Chair Duininck. Expect more Met Council news as move into 2015.

We want to be heard! Check out our buttons for Builder Day at the Captiol. Register to join us on February 18th for a fun day engaging with our state's leaders in St. Paul. 

Residential construction activity has not started the year as strong as we had hoped. Compared to January 2014, permits are down 13 percent. 

“After a tough 2014 for single-family construction, we had hoped to see a much stronger start to this year,” said Chris Contreras, 2015 President of  BATC.

Read more >>

Eden Prairie News:
New Home Tour Begins February 28
The Builders Association of the Twin Cities will open over 400 new homes and over 60 remodeled homes in this spring’s Parade of Homes and Remodelers Showcase events. Read more >>

Star Tribune:
Twin Cities Home Builders Hit the Pause Button this Month
After a rip-roaring January last year, housing construction in the Twin Cities metro this month is off to a slow start. Read more >>

Finance & Commerce: 
Builders Say ‘Responsible Contractor’ Act Needs Fixes
Critics in the building industry say the law is ambiguous and confusing and some fear it will have unintended consequences, like penalizing contractors for honest mistakes. Read more >>

The Housing industry may soon see a big boost! Business Insider recently used 8 charts to make the case that the next big housing boom is in the near future. Read more >>

What Do These Business Have in Common?

All Sons' Exteriors, Inc. • AMEK Custom Builders, Inc. • American Workshop • Brush Masters • Dakota County Lumber Company • Industrial Door Co., Inc. • Iron River Construction • JL Schwieters Bldg. Supply/Construction, Inc. • JNS Builders, LLC • Lyman Companies • Pella Windows & Doors • Plekkenpol Builders, Inc. • Practical Systems • Shaw/Stewart Lumber Co. • Solid • Synergy Products, LLC. • Tradesmen International, Inc.

They are all participating in the BATC Job & Career Fair, February 19th at the Mall of America Rotunda. There are still a few tables available. Don't miss out on this opportunity to find your next great hire at one of America's top venues! To sign up your business, please click here >>

February 5 - 10 - 17
BATC-U Continuing Education [Register]
February 12
Member Orientation [Register]
February 18
Builder Day at the Capitol [Register]
February 19
Job and Career Fair at Mall of America [Get a Booth]
February 24
Foundation Annual Recognition Lunch with Belinda Jensen [Register]
February 28 - March 29
Parade of Homes
March 27 - 29
Remodelers Showcase
April 2
Builders and Remodelers Show [Register]
July 9
Mid-Year Residential Outlook Breakfast [Register]

For a complete list of events, visit our website at WWW.BATC.ORG.