SCAAR Monthly Updates

March | 2026

Government Affairs Committee

The Government Affairs Committee recently welcomed Stearns County Commissioner Bob Johnson as a guest speaker. Commissioner Johnson shared insights into his personal and professional background, highlighting his experience in county leadership and ongoing involvement in local government initiatives.

A key focus of the discussion was the upcoming construction of a new justice center and the related tax exemption considerations. Commissioner Johnson also emphasized the importance of proactive planning for the future use of the current jail and law enforcement center site, noting the need for a dedicated task force to guide redevelopment efforts once the facilities are demolished in approximately three years.

In addition, Commissioner Johnson addressed broader community challenges, including the shortage of affordable housing and the importance of creating pathways for greater economic mobility within the region.

Looking ahead, the Government Affairs Committee will welcome St. Cloud Mayor Jake Anderson at its next meeting. The meeting will be held at the Sartell Community Center on Thursday, April 2 at 10:00 a.m. and is open to SCAAR members. Seating is limited and advance registration is required. Click here to register.

The committee extends its appreciation to our local officials for taking the time to engage with us and is grateful for the opportunity to work together in strengthening and improving our communities.

Legislative Victory: Senate Moves Forward on Major Housing Supply Bill: On March 12th, the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, advancing one of the most significant federal efforts to address the nation's housing supply and affordability challenges in decades. Click here to read more.

NAR responds to Executive Orders aimed at home affordability: President Donald Trump, on March 13th, signed two executive orders aimed at improving home affordability and speeding up construction. The orders direct multiple government agencies to simplify processes and cut regulations surrounding home building. Click here to read more.

Education/Equal Opportunity Committee

Upcoming Classes . . . . .

April 9 - Contracts Required Module w/Deb Greene

April 9 - Senior Transitions: Ethics, Housing & Advocacy w/Deb Greene

April 17 - Valuation Bias - 7 hr Appraiser required class - Approved for RE credit too!

May 27 - Eggs with Education - Speaker is Jon Kopecky (MN Realtors).

May 27 - Agency Law w/Jon Kopecky 1 hr

June 25 - New Member Orientation

Click here to regsiter for any of our classes.

Do you have an idea for a class you'd like offered? Email Kelly@stcloudrealtors.com with details.

RPAC Information

The Minnesota Realtors® Political Action Committee (MN-RPAC) is a bi-partisan Political Action Committee (PAC) that supports candidates and legislators who advocate for homeowners and the real estate industry.

Contributing to MN-RPAC is an investment in your business. Without your support, MN-RPAC cannot protect Realtors® and their clients from policies that would harm the real estate industry. It doesn’t take much, but your contribution takes us far.

Click here to make an investment today

Expo/Membership Meeting Task Force

Save the date:

November 19, 2026!

More info will come later this year.

If you have ideas for a class or speaker, please email Kelly@stcloudrealtors.com.

A few of our committees could use more members! Please consider helping out by joining a committee (or two!).

Education/Equal Opportunity – could use 3-4 more members. They help to find education/equal opportunity opportunities for members. Next mtg is April 13 at Los Mariachis in Sauk Rapids. You buy lunch, SCAAR will buy dessert!

Humanitarian – could use 2-3 more members. Their next meeting is April 13 at 11:30 am. They work on supporting members in need including the scholarships and Adopt a Family programs.

Preferred Partner – could use 2-3 more members. They meet every other month. Next meeting is April 20 at 10 am. They look for ways to support our Preferred Partner members.

If you are interested in joining a committee, please click here and fill out the form. If you have any questions about any of the committees, please reach out. Thank you!

Kelly@stcloudrealtors.com

320-253-7149

Public Relations Committee

The PR committee met at 3:30 pm at The House of Pizza on March 10th. We plan to meet at 3:30pm for our next meeting on April 14^th.

What have we been up to you ask?

SCAAR Social Hour: Tuesday, April 14th 4:00-6:00 pm House of Pizza West sponsored by Liberty Bank Minnesota. Network with SCAAR Members and Preferred Partners!

Progressive Drawing Winner! – Our First drawing for $150 was held at SCAAR Social Hour on March 10th. Congratulations to our winner, Melissa Anne Olson! The next drawing will be held June 9th.

2027 Sponsorship - Our 2027 Sponsorship sign-up sheet is open. Preferred Partners can sign up to sponsor Social Hour. Obligation is $100, of which $50 cover pizza and $50 towards a progressive drawing. We also ask that you bring some sort of prize ($25 value or more) to be drawn at Social Hour. Contact Kelly or Lance Bukowski with questions!

REMINDER – the more you come to SCAAR Social hour, the more you can win!!

FREE quarterly billboard Drawing in April - We will draw out of the agent cards collected from Social Hour every quarter. Our next drawing will be held at our next SCAAR Social Hour this April for a free billboard in May!

April Social Hour Sponsor: