SF 5445

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 04/16/2024 09:12am

A bill for an act
relating to state government; clarifying sustainable building guidelines; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 16B.325, subdivision 2; Laws 2023,
chapter 60, article 10, section 8.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 16B.325, subdivision 2, is amended
to read:

Subd. 2.

Lowest possible cost; energy conservation.

The guidelines must:

(1) focus on achieving the lowest possible lifetime cost, considering both construction
and operating costs, for new buildings and major renovations;

(2) allow for revisions that encourage continual energy conservation improvements in
new buildings and major renovations;

(3) define "major renovations" for purposes of this section to encompass not less than
10,000 square feet deleted text begin or deleted text end new text begin and new text end not less than the replacement of the mechanical, ventilation, or
cooling system of a building or a building section;

(4) establish sustainability guidelines that include air quality and lighting standards and
that create and maintain a healthy environment and facilitate productivity improvements;

(5) establish resiliency guidelines to encourage design that allows buildings to adapt to
and accommodate projected climate-related changes that are reflected in both acute events
and chronic trends, including but not limited to changes in temperature and precipitation
levels;

(6) specify ways to reduce material costs; and

(7) consider the long-term operating costs of the building, including the use of renewable
energy sources and distributed electric energy generation that uses a renewable source or
natural gas or a fuel that is as clean or cleaner than natural gas.

Sec. 2.

Laws 2023, chapter 60, article 10, section 8, is amended to read:

Sec. 8. ADMINISTRATION

$

945,000

$

-0-

(a) $690,000 the first year is for a contract
with the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota for the Institute on the
Environment to research and provide
recommendations for establishing new deleted text begin energy deleted text end
guidelines for state buildings under Minnesota
Statutes, section 16B.325, subdivision 2. The
grant agreement must require the director of
the Institute on the Environment to submit a
written report that summarizes the findings
and recommendations, including
recommendations for policy and legislative
changes, to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the legislative committees in the
house of representatives and the senate with
primary jurisdiction over energy policy and
capital investment.

(b) $255,000 the first year is for grants and
the environmental analysis of construction
materials under Minnesota Statutes, section
16B.312.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective retroactively from July 1, 2023.
new text end