March 27, 2026

SEE YOU AT THE OPEN HOUSE!

We look forward to seeing many of you this coming Tuesday, March 31 at AGC's Open House to celebrate our newly remodeled office space and training center, as well as the members who generously donated to make it possible. We'll also be saying farewell to our outgoing Director of Member Services, Merry Beckmann, as she begins her retirement!

If you plan to come and haven't RSVP'd, please do so!

RSVP

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS NEWS

Minnesota Capitol Update

Written by Sarah Psick, AGC Consultant

After a busy week at the Capitol, legislators are wrapping up committee work before an extended break for the Passover and Easter holidays. Lawmakers are looking forward to time in their districts to connect with constituents, hold Town Hall meetings, spend time with family, and recharge before the final weeks of the 2026 session.

New Laws Signed by the Governor

Four bills have officially landed on the Governor’s desk and were signed into law:

Extending Hemp Testing Deadline: A new law extends the deadline for hemp-derived product testing to May 31, 2027, giving businesses more time to use out‑of‑state testing facilities. Chapter 40

Clarifying School Bus Stop Requirements: Legislators approved a clarification to Minnesota’s school bus safety law: drivers must stop whenever the bus’s red flashing lights are on—regardless of whether the stop arm is fully extended. Chapter 40

Repeal of “Cesar Chavez Day”: Following recent allegations of sexual abuse, the Legislature moved swiftly and unanimously to repeal Minnesota’s designated Cesar Chavez Day. Chapter 42

Redirecting Funds for Homelessness Prevention: Another new law shifts $9 million from an existing housing program toward immediate homelessness prevention grants. Chapter 43

Committee Deadline

The clock is ticking on policy bills for this session, by the end of Friday all policy related bills need to have been heard in the House and Senate. The Senate is powering through with several committees meeting until Friday at 5:00 pm deadline. They are debating powers of the Attorney General, a prohibition on television advertising of prescription drugs, regulations of chatbots and AI companions, modifications to the Minnesota Massage Therapy Act, and more.

In the House, the power split has resulted in fewer bills moving forward and key priorities for both parties being left behind. On Thursday night, lawmakers attempted to pull several bills directly to the House Floor – skipping the committee process. The motions included bills related to banning assault rifles (HF 3433), banning high-capacity magazines (HF 3402), requiring age verification on social media sites (HF 1434), requiring camera in certain daycare settings, (HF 4277), and funding for the Safe Schools program (HF 3493)

A review of bills heard in House committees this week is available from the House Public Information Office and Session Daily articles.

Office of Inspector General

Legislation to create an independent Office of Inspector General cleared the House State Government Finance Committee this week. In 2025, the bill passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support but faced opposition from Governor Walz and House DFLer who preferred to lean on existing Office of Inspector Generals across state agencies and leave prosecutorial authority with the BCA. The bill approved in committee this week will create an independent office, allow the governor to appoint an inspector general – subject to confirmation by the Senate, and authorizes the new office to have enforcement and investigative powers. The bill has several additional committee stops, but the action this week is a significant move in the creation of an independent Office of Inspector General.

Threats Against Lawmakers is on the Rise

Over the last two years, threats against lawmakers have risen dramatically and are increasingly graphic. The tragic June 14, 2025, killing of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the shooting of Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette, has accelerated discussions on legislative safety. A series of bills are moving through the legislature addressing the privacy and safety of legislators. From adding securing screening at the Capitol, to creating a Legislator Security Task Force, to providing that email and street addresses are classified as private data – a package of safety measures is expected to pass before the Legislature adjourns in May.

State of the State

Governor Walz will present his final State of the State Address to a joint convention of the Legislature on Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00 pm.

Better Meat at the Raffle!

Have you ever bought a ticket for a meat raffle and wondered why there isn’t more variety or better meat? A bill advancing through the House and Senate aims to bring more excitement to Minnesota’s beloved and unique meat raffle by raising current maximums on ticket and prize limits. The maximum ticket price would increase from $2 to $5, and the maximum prize value would increase from of $70 to $200.

Electronic Positive Response Moves to Senate Floor

AGC–sponsored legislation to modernize the Gopher State One Call/811 system is on the move. HF 4233/SF 4339 would require facility operators to use Electronic Positive Response to report the status of locate requests—such as lines marked, no conflict with excavation, utility not located in the work area, or additional coordination required.

Excavators would be able to view these responses in real time before work begins, improving safety and reducing delays. The bill also requires operators to keep contact information updated at least quarterly. The bill passed the Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday and House Transportation Committee last week. The bill will eventually be voted by the entire House and Senate. AGC members John Hass (Veit) and Jake Zillmer (Bituminous Roadways) testified in support on behalf of the industry. We’re grateful for the leadership of Senator John Hoffman and Representative Larry Kraft in authoring the legislation.

Rep. Kraft and John Hass, Director of Lean Operations, Veit

Jake Zillmer, Safety Manager, Bituminous Roadways

Laura Ziegler (AGC), Jake Zillmer, Sarah Psick (AGC), Sen. John Hoffman, Stacy Arnold (AGC), Tom Murphy (AGC)

Uniform Certified Payroll Legislation Introduced

Legislation to establish a state-run, centralized system for certified payroll reporting on construction projects subject to prevailing wage laws was introduced this week. Under the bill, the Minnesota Department of Administration must create a central online portal and database for contractors to submit certified payroll through a single statewide system. This would not apply to MN Department of Transportation projects but would affect prevailing wage projects with all other state agencies, local governments, and school districts.

In conversing with the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council, the bill as introduced is expected to evolve, particularly around local government project use, operability, and effective dates. It is not intended to require contractors to report any additional information than they already do, and new language will address that issue. A key question and issue are ensuring this system integrates with, rather than duplicates, existing contractor or project owner payroll and compliance platforms, and does not create parallel reporting processes that increase administrative burden without improving compliance. AGC is also gathering feedback to ensure:

that the system is interoperable with existing certified payroll platforms,
that sensitive workforce data is appropriately safeguarded, and;
that policymakers and affected groups understand the practical impacts and necessary education when implementing a centralized reporting system.

Contractor Payment Information Requests to Public Owners

A bill that provides a framework for contractors to request progress, retainage, final, or other payment information from public owners was passed as amended in committee and now goes to the House and Senate floor. Under the framework, contractors must provide a written request to the public contracting agency, and the public agency has seven calendar days to respond with the payment amount and date.

AGC Construction Day at the Capitol

Join your colleagues in the MN Construction community at a critical time for decision making at the Capitol!

Attend Construction Day at the Capitol on May 7 to:

Learn more about important legislative issues impacting construction like the bonding bill and budget outlook
Hear from state policymakers
Connect with the AGC Government Affairs team
Increase the visibility of commercial construction contractors as leaders in under the Dome and in communities across the state
View the architectural and construction marvel that is the MN State Capitol Building.

AGC Legislative Committee

AGC’s Legislative Committee is meeting every other week. Reach out to Laura Ziegler if you’d like to join.

MEMBER NEWS

Gary Sauer (1944-2026)

We are deeply saddened to share with members the news of Gary Sauer's passing. Gary was the longtime President and CEO of AGC member Tiller Corporation (acquired in 2021 by Martin Marietta), and served on the AGC Board of Directors from 2007-2009. He was also the recipient of the AGC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.

Significant among his many contributions to the industry was his leadership in the 2006 "Vote Yes" campaign, co-chairing the Constitutional Amendment Advocacy Committee, which raised nearly $4M to finance the victorious campaign to increase the motor vehicle sales tax and strengthen the state's investment in transportation. In 2008, he led the industry's successful effort to override the governor's veto of a transportation funding bill. Gary was a stalwart partner in all sectors of the construction industry, and his legacy continues to echo today.

Gary was a dedicated advocate for the construction and materials industry, and along with his service on the AGC Board also served in leadership positions and on the boards of the National Asphalt and Pavement Association, the Minnesota Asphalt Pavement Association, the Aggregate and Ready-Mix Association of Minnesota, the Transportation Alliance, and other organizations.

AGC staff extends our deepest condolences to the Sauer family, and all who worked with Gary.

AGC Welcomes the Following New Members:

Henricksen Companies

800 N Washington Ave., Ste. 200

Minneapolis, MN 55401

Henricksen is a full-service dealership representing 400+ manufacturers of furniture, flooring, lighting, and architectural solutions. Since 1962, we’ve delivered projects from a single chair to full facilities, serving clients across corporate, government, healthcare, education, hospitality, senior living, and more—always exceeding expectations with tailored, high-quality solutions.

Grit Contracting

8786 Egan Dr.

Savage, MN 55378

At Grit Contracting, we embody a team rooted in attention to detail, and exceptional time management. Grit fosters a collaborative environment where the hard work of every team member is appreciated, and excellence is consistently pursued. By treating every job as if it’s our own, we ensure our clients receive the same level of attention, dedication, and care that we would expect from our own projects, fostering trust and long-term partnerships. Our specialty ranges from boardwalks, retaining walls and fencing to site grading, helical pile, structures and sheds. Grit Contracting is a certificated as a DBE and TGB.

Custom Hose Tech, Inc.

10740 Lyndale Ave. S., Ste. 8E

Bloomington, MN 55420

Custom Hose Tech is a family-owned hydraulic hose and fittings company serving the Twin Cities metro since 1998. We specialize in emergency mobile on-site hose repair with a 1-hour ETA, as well as walk-in counter service for hydraulic and industrial hoses, specializing in British and Metric fittings. Our team supports contractors, heavy equipment operators, fleet managers, and industrial facilities with fast, reliable service designed to minimize downtime and keep projects moving.

Wesco

601 Lakeview Point

New Brighton, MN 55112

Founded in 1957, formerly Anixter, Wesco is a global distributor of network infrastructure and data center infrastructure, physical security (surveillance cameras, access control), wireless solutions (Wi-Fi, DAS, Small Cell), audio visual, and safety supplies. Wesco provides innovative solutions to meet customer needs across commercial and industrial businesses, contractors, government agencies, institutions, telecommunications providers, and utilities.

Lowen Companies

921 Mainstreet

Hopkins, MN 55343

As an emerging business, Lowen Companies provides the expertise and execution of an in-house general contractor while allowing their clients to avoid the burden of carrying that overhead. We focus on building true partnerships through radical transparency, alignment, and shared goals. Whether supporting large-scale multi-family projects with equity participation or providing efficient general contracting services, we work alongside you with the mindset of an owner.

AGC Continuous Membership

Congratulations to the following AGC members who are celebrating milestone years of continuous AGC membership this year!

85 Years: North Risk Partners

80 Years:

70 Years: Sheehy Construction

65 Years:

60 Years:

55 Years:

45 Years: Ulland Brothers, Inc.

35 Years: Johnson-Wilson Constructors

30 Years:

25 Years:

20 Years:

15 Years:

10 Years:

ORGANIZATIONAL WELLBEING & CULTURE NEWS

Culture of CARE & Mental Wellbeing Presentations

Last week, Yolanda presented Creating a Culture of CARE and Mental Wellbeing to 250 employees at Rachel Contracting's Annual Spring Kickoff Meeting.

On behalf of Team Rachel, I want to express our sincere gratitude for your presence at our annual Spring Kickoff Meeting. Your presentation was impactful and provided the perfect mix of real-world relatable experiences and testimonial which captivated our team and got them thinking! We look forward to continuing to partner with you and the AGC of MN to improve Mental Health and Total Worker Wellbeing for all of Rachel Contracting employees and their families. - Ian Vagle, Corporate Safety & Risk Director (Rachel Contracting)

Yolanda also presented on Culture of CARE and Mental Wellbeing to 110 attendees yesterday at Valley Paving's 2026 Annual Spring Workshop.

Yolanda, with her powerful presence of truth and emotion, just spoke with the Valley Paving team about being present, being aware and being passionate about what we do in this industry and who we work with. Our teammates, our crew members, our friends, our family. Her story hit hard about looking out for each other, being present and knowing everyone has a story a past and a future. We win together, we lose, we struggle and we build together. - Brent Carron, President (Valley Paving)

If you would like to to schedule a mental wellbeing presentation for your employees,
please contact Yolanda.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEWS

Alumni Top Golf with Wipfli

All alumni of AGC's Leadership Blueprint or Building Leaders professional development programs are invited to join us on April 2 for a free afternoon of golf and networking at Top Golf in Woodbury!

Fully sponsored by Wipfli, this event is FREE to all alumni participants and includes food, beverages, and prize giveaways, but space is limited to 50! Claim your spot and plan to join us!

Building a Solid Foundation: IT Strategy for Construction

Construction industries are undergoing a digital transformation, and this includes embracing IT strategy. Find out why your firm should reshape itself and implement a proactive IT strategy. Click here to read more.

Founder and CEO Sam Bloedow created Thriveon in 2002 to help small and midsize businesses leverage technology for growth. Driven by a love for technology and a vision to eliminate IT risks, Thriveon empowers businesses with proactive IT solutions.

Leadership Blueprint / Building Leaders Graduation Reception

Join the 2025-2026 Leadership Blueprint and Building Leaders cohorts as they celebrate their graduation! Hear from graduates on how the program helped equip them as leaders, learn about AGC of MN’s other professional development opportunities, and network with alumni and employer members.

Guests will hear an inspiring message from keynote speaker Melissa DeLay, followed by group photos, and a networking happy hour.

AGC professional development alumni are strongly encouraged to attend!

SAFETY NEWS

April Safety Alliance Forum:
Excavation & Trenches

Excavation & Trenches for controlling contractors presented by Ian Vagle of Rachel Contracting. MN holds an excavating and trenching stand down each April to focus on the importance of excavation safety. In an effort to promote and help members prepare for the event, we will go over excavating and trenching best practices. What is the contractors responsibility when the excavators not on site? This will be a great meeting to encourage site supervisors to attend. .

Join in on April 9!

GENERAL NEWS

Constructability Review Request:
(TH 61) Little Manitou River Culvert Replacement

MnDOT is developing a project approximately 2 Miles south of the Lake/Cook County line beneath TH 61 to replace the Little Manitou Culvert. MnDOT is asking potential contractors to assist with evaluating construction means, methods and risks prior to delivering this project. Contractors who wish to participate in providing feedback are asked to do their due diligence to learn about the project and come prepared to discuss the questions provided. The meetings are expected to last approximately 2 hours.

Click here to learn more about the project. More documents can be found here.

Upcoming Webinar: The best way to develop rising construction leaders with McGough Construction

The construction industry is at a turning point. Rapid growth, labor shortages, technology transformation, and generational turnover are reshaping what effective leadership looks like—often faster than organizations can keep up. The question facing executives today isn’t whether leadership must evolve—it’s how quickly and how intentionally.

Take part in this dynamic, real-world conversation with top construction executives who are navigating these challenges head on by identifying, developing, and accelerating leaders who will guide their firms into the future with confidence. During this complimentary webinar, Erik Williams, Vice President, Construction, MDA Leadership will invite Cassie Nelson, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, McGough Construction to share how they are developing resilient, agile leaders who can navigate uncertainty and drive growth for the firm. Click here for more information.

2026 Scholarship Application is Open!

The application form for 2026 AGC of Minnesota Foundation scholarships is open. Please share with any person pursuing a degree in the construction industry! Previous scholarship recipients are welcome and encouraged to apply again.

New for 2026: One scholarship will be awarded to a high school senior!

Many AGC Edge Classes Available through 2026!

AGC Edge is Associated General Contractors of America’s live virtual education platform designed to deliver the same high-quality, instructor-led training traditionally offered in AGC classrooms—now accessible online.

Through AGC Edge, construction professionals can participate in interactive courses and workshops led by industry experts, with sessions delivered live via Zoom and scheduled across multiple days and time blocks for flexibility. From PMDP and BIM to STP and Lean Construction, there's an Edge class for everyone!

AGC members get discounted tuition - check out upcoming courses!