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WEDNESDAY:
Leadership Blueprint
Graduation Reception
(Mendakota Country Club)
Celebrate the 2023-24 Blueprint cohort as they graduate and share about the program!
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THURSDAY:
Spring Networking Event
(Coyote Moon Grille | St. Cloud)
Join the AGC Board of Directors and your industry colleagues for some informal networking!
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Worker Safety and Underground Utility Legislation Clears MN House of Representatives
Priority legislation for AGC to improve underground utility locating and enhance safety for all passed the MN House of Representatives Thursday night. The negotiated proposal was included in the larger transportation policy bill. The policy bill received strong bipartisan support with a 97-34 vote. The House author of the underground utility bill, Representative Larry Kraft (DFL-St. Louis Park), has worked closely with AGC and dozens of interested groups and individuals throughout the legislative session to reach agreement on changes to 216D, the excavation notice system statute. The final language represents a collaborative product based on conversations with the MN Office of Pipeline Safety, utilities and service providers, partner construction associations, Gopher State One Call, local governments, MN Department of Transportation, and local companies.
What would the legislation do?
Safety is the number one goal of this legislation. The proposal improves underground utility locating, enhances project communication, and prioritizes worker and public safety during road and building construction projects. Modernizing the law now is vital as the state prepares for the wave of projects over the next several years following recent state and federal infrastructure investments, including significant broadband infrastructure deployment.
Current state statute is based on outdated technology and processes for marking and mapping underground infrastructure. There haven’t been significant updates to Chapter 216D in almost 40 years. While our AGC contractor members are the ones directly digging into the ground, this legislation would impact every Minnesotan.
As AGC members are acutely aware, missing or inaccurate utility location marks can cause significant project delays during the excavation process as well as serious safety risks. According to the Minnesota Geospatial Advisory Council, there were more than 2,200 unintentional hits to underground utility infrastructure in 2021. The legislation would improve the quality of mapped underground utilities by leveraging geospatial technology that didn’t exist when the statutes were written.
The proposed legislation also improves information sharing amongst all parties involved in a construction project. Those changes include updated timelines for completing utility locates, applying requirements for pre-design, pre-construction, and on-site meets, and implementing statewide tracking of unintentional hits and the accuracy of utility marks.
What’s next?
After the Senate passes their transportation policy bill, a conference committee of select Senators and Representatives will be appointed to negotiate the differences between the two bills. Since the Senate does not have the negotiated underground utility bill language in their policy bill, the conference committee will need to accept the House language on this provision to be included in the conference committee report. The committee report reflects the final language for the House and the Senate to vote on again before being sent to the Governor for his signature.
AGC government affairs team will continue communication with the appropriate legislators once the conference committee members are announced. The conference committee could be established in the next two weeks. Stay tuned to the Weekly Update for timely information or contact Laura Ziegler with any questions.
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Bill that Dramatically Alters the Independent Construction Contractor Test Cruising through Committees
Legislation that establishes a new multi-part independent contractor test for building construction and improvement services is nearing its final committee stops. The new multi-part test increases the current nine-factor test to 14 requirements to identify and classify as an independent contractor operating in construction and improvement services. A worker must meet each of the requirements in order to be an independent contractor; if the worker fails to meet even one of the new 14 criteria, the bill states that the worker is an employee. Then, the legislation uses individual and successor liability up the contracting chain with substantial penalties for misclassification, regardless of intent or direct knowledge or the ability to verify that the contractor/worker meets all 14 requirements.
The bill is being pushed by the MN Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) and the Attorney General’s Office. House File 4444 was heard and passed in the House State Government and Judiciary committees. The bill’s companion in the Senate, SF 4483, was heard in the Labor and Judiciary committees. It will be heard in Taxes next week.
In many instances, it is not possible for an upper-tier contractor to independently verify the current status of each criterion. AGC has asked DLI how contractors will be able to comply with this if signed into law. AGC government affairs staff have been in discussions with legislators and the Department of Labor and Industry, and have testified with strong opposition in all of the committees stops. We continue to engage on this issue, relay significant concerns, and represent contractor interests.
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Holiday Breaks
There is little other news to report, as the Legislature had a shorter week returning from Easter recess. The Legislature will have another condensed work week while they break for Eid starting Tuesday, April 9 at 5:00 p.m. returning Thursday, April 11 at noon. The House and the Senate will continue to pass their policy and supplemental budget bills in the coming weeks. Priorities include passing a public projects package (bonding/capital investment), several policy initiatives, and proposals to spend $512 million of the state’s $3.7 surplus. Budget targets recently agreed to by House and Senate Leadership and the Governor will increase spending across a variety of budget areas. The largest supplemental budget amounts are directed to K-12 education, human services, children and families, taxes, aids, and credits, debt service and capital projects, and judiciary.
As a reminder, the Legislature must adjourn before or on May 20.
AGC’s Legislative Committee will meet on April 18. Email Laura Ziegler to join the conversation.
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AI in the Construction Industry Presentation
AGC's Safety Director Matthew Semerad presented on AI to the AGC Safety Committee this week. View his presentation below.
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General Counsel Mike Schechter Named in Minnesota Lawyer Top 30 List
Congratulations to AGC's General Counsel and Director of Labor Relations, Mike Schechter, on being named by Minnesota Lawyer as one of the 2024 "Power 30" attorneys in Construction and Real Estate Law! The Power 30 are "those whose mere presence on a case signifies the stakes, who have influenced the direction of the law, whose leadership in the community is pervasive and whose respect within the bar is undeniable." Way to represent the interests of AGC members with skill, responsibility, and integrity, Mike!
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DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION (DEI) NEWS | |
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Executive Circle Culture of CARE Presentation
Yolanda presented Culture of CARE and mental health and suicide prevention to the Executive Circle 2024 cohort this week.
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Environmental Permitting Reform: Regional Meetings
Minnesota’s environmental permitting process has long been the topic of concern among business leaders, with several notable economic development projects have stalled out or left the state due to reported permitting challenges. The Minnesota Chamber Foundation, the nonpartisan research arm of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, recently released a report providing recommendations to increase certainty throughout Minnesota’s permitting system and provide actionable strategies to improve transparency and timeliness without lowering standards.
This six month analysis was completed in conjunction with consulting partners Barr Engineering, the Policy Navigation Group and Squire Patton Boggs. The research examined Minnesota’s air, water and wetland permitting process, along with environmental review. In addition to the analysis around timeliness and certainty, the study compared Minnesota to neighboring and peer states, reveals the economic impact of delays and uncovers the challenges impacting transparency. The report also identifies clear and actionable strategies to streamline permitting for new business investments.
Join either of the upcoming meetings to learn the facts and data uncovered in the report, and the Minnesota Chamber Foundation’s recommendations to shape an environmental permitting process that can both protect the state’s cherished natural resources and produce timely and reliable outcomes for businesses:
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MnDOT Announces 2024 State Construction Projects
MnDOT's 2024 construction season includes 193 planned road and bridge projects, plus 54 projects that will improve airports, water ports, railroad crossings and transit infrastructure.
Significant projects this year include:
- Replacing and repairing bridges on Interstate 494 between Edina and Richfield continues for the second year of a four-year project that also includes reconfiguring the I-35W/I-494 interchange, building a pedestrian bridge, adding E-ZPass lanes, and constructing noise walls. Other major projects in the Twin Cities Metro area include pavement improvements on I-94 between Oakdale and Lakeland and Highway 36 between Roseville and Little Canada, and the start of a three-year project to repair the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis.
- Completing bridge work on I-35 between the Twin Cities and Duluth and resurface pavement near Hinckley, and the Atkinson bridge over Carlton County Road 61 will be repaired. Roadwork will also continue on I-35 in Duluth.
- Completing the I-35 Faribault project will include ramp, bridge and pavement improvements.
- Crews will begin a three-year project to improve the I-90/Highway 52 interchange southeast of Rochester which involves replacing the I-90 bridges, constructing a new ramp/bridge over Highway 52 and other improvements.
- Reconstructing Highway 220 north of East Grand Forks with pavement and culvert replacements to improve drainage and the driving surface.
- Resurfacing the Hwy 25 bridge over the Mississippi River in Monticello, including drainage and sidewalk updates.
- A three-year project to improve the 11th Street underpass in Moorhead will involve constructing two underpasses under BNSF rail lines, sidewalk and other improvements.
- Two new roundabouts will be constructed during a two-year complete streets project on Highways 59 and 108 in Pelican Rapids, which will also improve a shared-use path, sidewalk and city utilities.
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Full Summer Overweight Permits Start in Metro Frost Zone
The Minnesota Department of Transportation started full-summer overweight permits in the Metro frost zone today, April 5, at 12:01 am.
Seasonal load limit zones and restricted routes can be found here. Start and end dates and other load limit information are shown here.
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Apply for Scholarships!
The application form for 2024-2025 AGC of Minnesota Foundation scholarships is open. Please share with any young people pursuing a degree in the construction industry!
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Expand the Toolbox: Reinventing our Construction Workforce Through Technology Advancements
Join us on Thursday, May 2 at Knutson Construction for an exciting event exploring the cutting-edge technologies evolving the construction industry! This event will host industry experts that will discuss the latest technological trends and innovations that are shaping the future of construction.
Contractors and Education - If you are looking to incorporate new technology into your business or update your workforce with the latest skills and knowledge, this event is perfect for you! We will cover a wide range of topics, from digital tools and software to advanced equipment that are changing the way we build.
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from industry leaders, participate in interactive panel discussion, and even experience live demos of the newest construction technology equipment in action.
Learn more and Register
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CERT Connect Open House for ALL Small Businesses
Join many departments within Ramsey County, as well as city partners and the U of M, on Thursday, May 9 (8:00-10:30 a.m.) at the Maplewood Community Center for an opportunity for small businesses to have deliberate, worthwhile conversations with county staff who are directly involved in construction!
Learn more and Register
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Registration is open for all of the following events.
Secure your sponsorship or registration before events are sold out!
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St. Paul Saints Game - August 7
(CHS Field | St. Paul)
Join AGC and MBEX members for an afternoon of Minnesota Twins AAA baseball against the Columbus Clippers!
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Sporting Clays Fundraiser - Sept 11
(Minnesota Horse & Hunt Club | Prior Lake)
Register your team of 5 to join us at the 25th Annual Sporting Clays Fundraiser to benefit the AGC of Minnesota Foundation!
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Thank You to our 2024 Annual Partners! | |
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Don't Miss These Events!
Register now for these upcoming AGC events:
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Your Trusted Resource
Associated General Contractors of Minnesota
525 Park Street, Suite 110 | St. Paul, MN 55103
651-632-8929
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