Minnesota Builders Sue Over 1,400-Page Omnibus Law

Two Minnesota builders groups have sued over the state’s 2024 omnibus law, arguing that its combination of nine bills and numerous unrelated subjects violated the state constitution’s single-subject and title requirements. The lawsuit targets provisions affecting residential energy-code standards, how construction workers are classified as independent contractors, and contractor registration, which the groups say impose burdens on builders and small businesses. The Upper Midwest Law Center, representing the groups, estimates the energy requirements could add about $44,000 to the cost of building a two-story home; that figure is the plaintiffs’ claim. The groups are asking a court to strike down the entire law or, at minimum, the challenged provisions, pointing to an earlier ruling—upheld on appeal—that invalidated the law’s ban on binary firearm triggers.