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Northern MN Reps. Kozlowski, Igo aim for rural housing solutions

State Reps. Alicia
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Minnesota House of Representatives
State Reps. Alicia "Liish" Kozlowski, DFL-Duluth, left, and Spencer Igo, R-Wabana Township, right, will both serve on the Housing Finance and Policy Committee during the 2025 legislative session.

Housing Finance and Policy Committee members Reps. Spencer Igo and Alicia "Liish" Kozlowski are driving bipartisan efforts to address the state’s housing challenges.

The 2025 Minnesota legislative session in the House began with a rocky start as the Republican caucus convened on opening day without their Democratic-Farmer-Labor colleagues.

But two northern Minnesota representatives have goals in mind for the year, despite the impasse, particularly when it comes to housing. Rep. Alicia "Liish" Kozlowski and Rep. Spencer Igo will both serve on the Housing Finance and Policy Committee in the Minnesota House this year. Before bipartisan work can move ahead, however, legislators must move past the dispute that's led to the chaos at the Capitol.

"It's unfortunate and it's something that I don't think anyone really wants," said Igo, R–Wabana Township, on the KAXE Morning Show. "But the thing is, the House Republicans showed up, followed the law."

Kozlowski, DFL-Duluth, was not present on the first day of session or since, along with her DFL colleagues. "I can tell you I don't think it was on anyone's legislative bingo card for the way that this Legislature would kick off a constitutional crisis where there's a dispute over what the constitution says," she said.

Here's what happened: It was expected that the Minnesota House would have a 67-67 split in 2025, but then DFLer Curtis Johnson of District 40B resigned due to a court decision that found him ineligible to serve because he didn't live in the district. The numbers changed to a 67-66 split until a special election to fill that seat. Talk before the session began revolved around sharing power, including committees and the House speaker position.

Republicans, despite Sec. of State Steve Simon's adjournment for not meeting quorum, took over on opening day and elected Republican Rep. Lisa Demuth as House speaker. What lies in question is the definition of the word "quorum." Democrats say the quorum is 68 and Republicans say they've met the bar with 67, because only 133 members are seated. The Minnesota Supreme Court will decide this issue.

Add to that another thorny issue with the election of DFL Rep. Brad Tabke of Roseville, who won with a slim margin of 14 votes — with 20 ballots confirmed missing. The courts have already advised that Tabke won the seat, but Democrats worry that Republicans will refuse to seat Tabke anyway.

Priorities

Despite the controversy, both Igo and Koslowski are focused on their priorities, which include housing, economic development, energy and the budget.

Full conversation with Rep. Spencer Igo (R-Wabana Township) of House District 7a
Full conversation with Rep. Alicia Kozlowski (DFL-Duluth) from House District 8b

Igo said he is committed to increase housing stock in Greater Minnesota. He cited high building costs, permitting delays and zoning regulations. "Anything and everything is on the table and we're gonna have some really good conversations," he said. "And really there's some great partnerships that are being developed."

Kozlowski echoed the urgency of addressing housing issues in Northern Minnesota. "Everyone is having the same trouble of affording — affording a place to call home, whether it's apartments or condos or townhomes and duplexes, to first-time homeowners," she said. "Everybody wants to realize that dream."

Despite the political tensions, both lawmakers remain optimistic about the potential for meaningful progress on housing, and stress the importance of the issue outside the urban region.

"No one can offer the quality of life that we can up in Northern Minnesota, and you can combine that with economic development, good jobs, more places people want to live," Igo said. "So that's why I'm excited. We can find a way to unleash housing in our area."

Kozlowski said, "We know that people want to live in communities that are connected, that are walkable, that are livable, that have, you know, thriving businesses, and that means ... we know housing is where that starts. And that really spurs and regenerates that economic activity."


Do you have ideas on how Northern Minnesota can solve housing issues? Let us know!

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Heidi Holtan is Director of Content and Public Affairs. She manages producers/hosts and is the host of the KAXE Morning Show, including a variety of local content like Phenology, What's for Breakfast, Area Voices, The Sports Page and much more, alongside Morning Edition from NPR.