Sen. Jordan Rasmusson Named 2025 Legislator of the Year for Housing Affordability Leadership

Championing Homeownership and Affordability

Housing First Minnesota has named Sen. Jordan Rasmusson a 2025 Legislator of the Year, recognizing his leadership in advancing housing affordability and expanding homeownership opportunities. The award was presented Oct. 24 at the Building Industry Gala at Mystic Lake Center, which honors leaders across Minnesota’s homebuilding and remodeling industry.

Housing First Minnesota — the state’s leading voice for homebuilders, remodelers, and suppliers — praised Rasmusson for his commitment to addressing the state’s housing challenges and his work on policies to expand access to homeownership.

“Senator Rasmusson demonstrated steadfast leadership in tackling Minnesota’s housing challenges during this past session,” said Mark Foster, vice president of legislative affairs for Housing First Minnesota. “As one of the architects of the bipartisan Yes to Homes agenda, he championed policies that would break down barriers to homeownership — such as limiting exclusionary aesthetic mandates — showing a clear commitment to expanding housing opportunities for everyone across Minnesota.”

A Housing Market Under Pressure

Minnesota faces a housing deficit of more than 100,000 homes, leaving families across the state struggling to find options that fit their budget. According to the Minnesota Housing Partnership’s 2025 State Housing Profile, 642,455 Minnesotans spend over 30% of their income on housing, and rising costs have made homeownership difficult for first-time buyers.

Recent trends show:

• Median home values rising over the last five years
• Rent increasing faster than wages for many residents
• Eviction filings climbing statewide
• No Minnesota county where a family earning the median income can afford the median-priced home

Zoning rules such as minimum lot sizes, parking mandates, and aesthetic requirements have contributed to higher construction costs and limited starter-home development.

The Minnesota Starter Home Act

Rasmusson helped lead the Minnesota Starter Home Act, a key piece of the bipartisan Yes to Homes agenda. The proposal seeks to streamline zoning rules, remove unnecessary regulations, and increase the supply of entry-level homes, duplexes, townhomes, and accessory dwelling units in areas served by existing infrastructure.

“In Minnesota, the median cost of a new single-family home is over $540,000, putting homeownership out of reach for many hardworking Minnesotans,” Rasmusson said. “By cutting red tape, we can empower the free market to build more affordable homes and give first-time buyers a fighting chance.”

Although the reforms did not become law in 2025, Rasmusson emphasized the bipartisan momentum behind the effort.

“Last session, we built tremendous momentum for meaningful housing reform,” he said. “I will continue to be a strong voice for policies that make homeownership more accessible for Minnesota families.”

Looking Ahead

Housing First Minnesota invited industry members and supporters to future Building Industry Gala events and encouraged continued collaboration between policymakers and housing leaders.

For more information, visit housingfirstmn.org.