SF4252 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
State-funded projects renewable energy requirements modifications
Related bill: HF4168
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
- Establish and require sustainable building design guidelines for state-funded construction projects. The bill aims to improve energy performance of state buildings by setting higher efficiency standards than current codes.
Main Provisions
- Departments Responsible: The Department of Administration and the Department of Commerce, with help from other state agencies, must develop sustainable building design guidelines.
- Coverage: Guidelines apply to all new state buildings and to all major renovations of state buildings.
- Energy Performance Target: New state buildings and major renovations must exceed the state energy code by at least 30 percent.
- On-Site Renewable Energy: The guidelines may not require that renewable energy sources be located on the building site.
- Timeline (as stated in the bill):
- New state buildings: guidelines to be developed by January 15, 2003.
- Major renovations: guidelines to be developed by February 1, 2009.
- Legal Reference: The guidelines modify Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 16B.325, subdivision 1, regarding sustainable building requirements.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Tightens energy performance requirements by mandating that new state buildings and major renovations exceed the current state energy code by at least 30 percent.
- Shifts emphasis to the development of formal sustainable building design guidelines overseen by the Department of Administration and the Department of Commerce, rather than relying solely on the energy code.
- Removes the requirement for on-site renewable energy installations, allowing flexibility in how the energy performance target is met (e.g., efficiency, systems optimization, or other non-on-site strategies).
Implementation Details and Scope
- The guidance is intended for all new state construction and major renovations, aligning state buildings with higher energy efficiency standards.
- The energy code referenced is Minnesota Rules, chapter 7676; the bill specifies exceeding this code by 30 percent as the objective.
- The guidelines are intended to be developed with assistance from other state agencies, ensuring cross-agency coordination.
Relevant Terms - sustainable building design guidelines - state buildings - energy code - Minnesota Rules chapter 7676 - Department of Administration - Department of Commerce - renewable energy sources - on-site renewable energy - major renovations - new state buildings - energy efficiency target 30 percent
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 09, 2026 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| March 09, 2026 | Senate | Action | Referred to | State and Local Government |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Requires development of sustainable building design guidelines by the Department of Administration and the Department of Commerce, with the assistance of other agencies.",
"Sets deadlines for guideline development: by January 1.15 2003 for new state buildings and by February 1 2009 for major renovations."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 16B.325, subdivision 1, to require the development of sustainable building design guidelines for all new state buildings and major renovations, with an objective that these guidelines cause buildings to exceed the state energy code by at least 30 percent. It also states that the guidelines shall not require on-site renewable energy sources.",
"modified": [
"Introduces an energy-efficiency target (exceeding the state energy code by at least 30 percent) and clarifies that on-site renewable energy sources are not required."
]
},
"citation": "16B.325",
"subdivision": "1"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee