We’re Advocating for Washington County in 2026

Location: At the Minnesota Capitol

Dateline: April 8, 2026

CDA Administration Director Alyssa Soderlund joined local industry professionals for a Day at the Capitol, organized by the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO). The goal was to advocate for the tools and resources to help HRAs across the state meet the needs of the communities they serve.

Pictured from left to right: Julias Aubid, Director of Operations & Development at Circle Sage Property Management; Alyssa Soderlund, Administration Director at the Washington County CDA; Taggert Medgaarden, Executive Director at the HRA of Austin; Sam Richie, Larkin Hoffman, Legislative Lobbyist for MN NAHRO; Rep. Michael Howard, Co-Chair of the Housing Finance and Policy Committee; Tammy Manderscheid, Executive Director of the City of Pipestone HRA; and David Dunn, Executive Director of the Olmsted County HRA.

Location: At the Minnesota House

Dateline: March 17, 2026

CDA Executive Director Melissa Taphorn testified in front of the Housing Finance and Policy Committee in support of HF4141, legislation designed to strengthen protections for employees of Minnesota’s housing and redevelopment authorities. The bill would impose enhanced criminal penalties for assaulting or harassing housing authority employees whose regular duties include conducting rental unit inspections, enforcing rules for rental assistance, determining eligibility for public benefits.

While these interactions are routine, they can occasionally take an unexpected turn. Although Minnesota law already provides enhanced penalties for assaults on a wide range of public workers, housing and redevelopment authority workers are not explicitly named. HF4141 would amend current statutes to close this gap, ensuring that housing authority personnel can continue to do their essential public service work safely.

Dateline: March 10, 2026

A week earlier, while in Washington D.C. for the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) conference, Ms. Taphorn provided virtual testimony before the Housing Finance and Policy Committee in support of HF3809. This bill seeks to address the limitations in current law around the eviction of a tenant who poses a serious threat.

Under existing statutes, expedited evictions are permitted only in cases when violent behavior or serious threats are made against other residents of a rental property. HF3809 expands the definition to include property managers, visitors, and service providers. This clarification is critical to ensuring that property owners can provide rental homes that are physically and emotionally safe for all tenants.

 

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Location: On the Hill in D.C. for 2026 NAHRO Washington Conference

Dateline: March 12, 2026

The CDA was in Washington D.C. with the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) to engage with congressional legislators and discuss Washington County’s critical need for affordable housing. By collaborating with housing authorities across Minnesota, we amplify the collective experiences of our communities, share what’s working on the ground, and speak with a unified voice about the urgent need to preserve, create, and stabilize housing across the state.

 

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