From the Executive Director, Steve Snezek

By Steve Snezek MBIA Executive Director

interesting times. This past year, we have all had to navigate Covid challenges (illness, changing protocols, etc.), economic challenges (materials inflation, wage inflation, lack of labor, etc.) the legislative session, and of course the unbelievable increase in housing demand that most of our areas have seen over the past 16 months. All of the above has had its impact on our office, not the least of which is navigating Covid, which has even affected our ability to get this magazine out in a timely fashion due to illnesses with our staff and families, printers, ad sales, and so on.

But with all that said, we have had the most productive year in quite some time. Thanks to your efforts and great work by our General Counsel and Lobbyist Abby St. Lawrence, we were able to pass two major pieces of legislation that we have been working on for years: 1) A ban on mandatory fire sprinklers in residential building codes; and 2) A ban on inclusionary zoning. Please see the article on the legislative session in this magazine for more details.

But our success has come with some public relations challenges. In a time when affordable housing is finally back on public officials’ radar, the ban on inclusionary zoning is being used by some to point the finger at home builders being the problem. While you and I know that this is not true, we will continue to work to show that the real barriers to affordable housing are the Four Ls—lots, labor, lumber, and legislation/ litigation.

As you also know, thanks to members Kim Chambers (MBIA’s State Representative to NAHB) and Abby St. Lawrence (General Counsel and Lobbyist), last year we were able to keep construction included as an essential service in the Covid lockdowns. This was not the case in many other states, but due to the aforementioned, we were able to do this. While this was technically a success last year, we are still reaping the positive effects of this today. I cannot imagine how difficult the Montana housing situation would be if you were not able to build for two months last year.

The biggest challenge that MBIA faces going forward is membership. It seems counterintuitive that in a time when construction is booming, membership is holding steady at best. But that is the case. It is not unique to Montana, in that building industry associations across the country are facing the same issue. It is also not unique to our industry–trade associations, in general, are facing membership challenges. We all need to be proactive in recruiting and retaining members as we go forward and explain the benefits of banding together to protect and promote our industry.

Finally, as many of you know, I have decided to resign at the end of 2021. The past five years have been great for me, and hopefully for MBIA—but it is time for me to move on. It is not hyperbole for me to say that I love this Association, I love our members, and I love our issues. I have made many lifelong friends in my time here, and I know that MBIA has even greater days ahead. With the next legislative session scheduled to begin in 2023, I hope that this gives MBIA plenty of time to strategic plan and to hire the right individual. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support, your friendship, and your dedication to improving our great state. Also, please stay in touch! My private email is stevesnezek@gmail.com.

MONTANA SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING STARTS 2021 *