HF4168 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Renewable energy requirements for state-funded construction projects modified.
Related bill: SF4252
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- Change how renewable energy requirements are handled for state-funded construction by directing the development of sustainable building design guidelines. The goal is to ensure new state buildings and major renovations exceed the state energy code by at least 30 percent, while not requiring renewable energy sources to be located on the building site.
Main Provisions
- Amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 16B.325 subdivision 1 to codify the development of sustainable building design guidelines.
- Responsible agencies: Department of Administration and Department of Commerce, with assistance from other state agencies.
- Timeline for guidelines:
- For all new state buildings: by January 15, 2003.
- For all major renovations of state buildings: by February 1, 2009.
- Energy performance standard: The guidelines must ensure that new state buildings and major renovations initially exceed the state energy code (Minnesota Rules chapter 7676) by at least 30 percent.
- Renewable energy on-site: The guidelines may not require that renewable energy sources be located on the building site.
Implementation & Compliance
- Scope: Applies to all new state buildings and major renovations.
- Method: Development of guidelines by the two departments, with cooperation from other agencies.
- Reference standard: The baseline energy code is Minnesota Rules chapter 7676.
Significance / Changes to Law
- Establishes a higher energy-efficiency target (30 percent above the state energy code) for state-owned construction projects.
- Removes the requirement that renewable energy systems must be installed on-site.
- Introduces a formal process for creating sustainable building guidelines to govern state building projects.
Potential Impacts
- Could influence design choices, construction practices, and lifecycle energy use of state buildings.
- May affect budgeting and project planning due to higher efficiency targets, while offering flexibility by not mandating on-site renewables.
Terminology / Definitions (from bill text)
- sustainable building design guidelines
- state energy code
- Minnesota Rules chapter 7676
- renewable energy sources
- on-site
- new state buildings
- major renovations
- Department of Administration
- Department of Commerce
- Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 16B.325 subdivision 1
- January 15, 2003
- February 1, 2009
Relevant Terms - sustainable building design guidelines - state energy code - Minnesota Rules chapter 7676 - renewable energy sources - on-site - new state buildings - major renovations - Department of Administration - Department of Commerce - Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 16B.325 subdivision 1 - January 15, 2003 - February 1, 2009
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 12, 2026 | House | Action | Introduction and first reading, referred to | State Government Finance and Policy | |
| March 16, 2026 | House | Action | Author added |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 16B.325, subdivision 1, to modify sustainable building guidelines for state-funded construction by requiring new state buildings and major renovations to exceed the state energy code by at least 30 percent and to clarify that renewable energy sources need not be located on the building site.",
"modified": [
"Requires that the sustainable building guidelines for new state buildings and major renovations exceed the state energy code by at least 30 percent.",
"Clarifies that renewable energy sources are not required to be located on-site."
]
},
"citation": "16B.325",
"subdivision": "Subdivision 1"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee