Two Minnesota builders associations have filed a lawsuit challenging provisions of the state’s 2024 omnibus law, arguing it violates the Minnesota Constitution’s single-subject and title requirements.

The Upper Midwest Law Center is representing the Central Minnesota Builders Association and Rochester Area Builders Inc. in the lawsuit. The suit was filed in Ramsey County District Court against Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach in their official capacities. The lawsuit was announced at a press conference at the Minnesota State Capitol last week.

What the Law Did

The 2024 omnibus law, formally known as CCR-HF5247, was passed in the final minutes of the 2024 legislative session after a legislative conference committee combined nine previously separate omnibus bills into one bill spanning roughly 1,400 pages and 73 articles, according to the complaint. The complaint states the bill covered subjects including transportation, labor, combative sports, housing, health occupations and licensing, higher education, firearms, agriculture, energy, human services, health care and taxes. The House passed the bill 70-50 and the Senate passed it 34-14, both largely along party lines, according to the complaint. Gov. Walz signed the bill into law on May 24, 2024.

The Minnesota Constitution’s single-subject and title clause states that “no law shall embrace more than one subject, which shall be expressed in its title.” In August 2025, a Ramsey County district court ruled the 2024 omnibus law violated that clause and struck down a provision related to a ban on binary firearm triggers. The Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed that ruling on May 26, 2026.

What the Lawsuit Challenges

The new lawsuit seeks to invalidate three provisions of the law affecting the construction industry:

• A requirement that the state revise the residential energy code to achieve a 70% reduction in annual net energy consumption by 2038.
• A revised legal test for how construction businesses classify workers as employees or independent contractors.
• Expanded registration and reporting requirements for businesses providing building construction or improvement services.

The complaint alleges the energy code mandate will increase the cost of building a two-story house in Minnesota by an average of $44,000.

For senior housing providers in Minnesota, the challenged provisions could have implications for the cost of developing, expanding or renovating communities. Additional compliance costs for construction contractors could translate into higher project bids, potentially putting pressure on project feasibility and resident affordability. The residential energy code mandate’s applicability would depend on the type of building and governing code.

The lawsuit asks the court to declare the entire 2024 omnibus law unconstitutional and block its enforcement, or, at minimum, to invalidate the specific provisions affecting Minnesota’s building industry.