St. Paul City Council Briefed on 2024 Legislative Priorities

Copper wire theft, tax credits for converting office buildings into housing, and cities’ ability to tax cannabis have this in common: they are all issues St. Paul will bring before the Minnesota state legislature this session.

Eric Petersen, the city’s Intergovernmental Relations Associate, summarized St. Paul’s legislative priorities at Wednesday’s City Council meeting.

The city will also seek funding for the new Regional Sports Facility on Rice Street, the Mississippi River Learning Center, the River Balcony, two bridges, several park projects, and two library renovations.

In response to a question from Council Member Rebecca Noecker about which of the items on the list were the highest priorities, Petersen stated that the city will take the lead on legislation addressing copper wire theft. The law will regulate who can purchase copper wire, taking inspiration from last year’s catalytic converter legislation.

Several of the legislative priorities involve housing. The Minnesota Conversion Tax Credit will incentivize redevelopment of office buildings into housing. Petersen noted that St. Paul has the most historic structures of any other city in the state, which means there are many historic buildings that could be transformed into housing.

Other housing priorities include more funding for The Heights development, including money from the Minnesota Department of Energy because the development will be the first one in the state to feature a geothermal heating system. The city will also ask the state to pass legislation related to tenant’s rights.

Following the city’s support of last year’s cannabis legalization, St. Paul will now join other cities in asking the legislature for authority to tax cannabis.

At the beginning of the meeting, Council President Mitra Jalali stated that
“we acknowledge and appreciate” the presence of audience members who carried signs calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. She asked the activists to discuss their concerns with their council representatives, but stopped short of committing to a council resolution backing a ceasefire.