Date:	March 26-27, 2024
Time:	Day 1: Mar 26, 2024 8:30 am - 7:00 pm Day 2: Mar 27, 2024 8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Location:	DoubleTree Hotel, 411 Minnesota Street, St. Paul, MN 55101 Get Directions
This event is now closed for online registration

The Legislative Conference has been cancelled due to a forecasted winter storm. Registrants should watch for more information via email.

MMUA’s Legislative Conference is one of the municipal utility community’s primary opportunities to inform and influence state lawmakers. This year’s event will occur just before the legislature takes the first of three short spring breaks to recognize Easter, Eid, and Passover. This will make it prime time for pushing for final committee action and to lobby hard for a bonding bill adequate to meet utility infrastructure needs.

The conference will include engaging presentations from a diverse array of industry and legal experts. Topics will include building resiliency in local government, renewable energy credits, grant procurement and administration, the role and importance of the Municipal Utilities Action Fund (MUAF), MMUA’s administrative and legislative priorities, and more. 

On Tuesday afternoon, attendees will head to the Hill to meet with their representatives. The Government Relations team encourages you to start making appointments now to meet with your local Senators and House members. We will cap off the day with a legislative reception at the DoubleTree, providing MMUA members the opportunity for further conversation with lawmakers.

Who should attend

Tuesday, March 26

8:30 am  Registration
9:15 am  Welcome and conference overview
9:30 am  Keynote speaker
10:45 am  The role and value of MUAF, Kent Sulem and Bill Black, MMUA
11:00 am  MMUA's 2024 legislative agenda—Where we are and where we want to be, Kent Sulem and Bill Black, MMUA 
11:45 am  Lunch served
12:30-7:45 pm  Shuttle service to and from the Capitol
1:00-4:30 pm  Meet with legislators  *
4:30-7:00 pm  Legislative reception (at hotel's Grand Atrium); Invite your legislators to join us! A shuttle service will be provided for them as well.

*Contact Bill Black at MMUA if you need assistance scheduling your appointments. Email bblack@mmua.org or phone 651.398.2098.

Wednesday, March 27

8:30 am  Feedback from legislative visits
Members share comments from their afternoon on the hill. Identifying supporters of MMUA efforts, as well as reasons why a legislator will not support an MMUA objective or supports an issue of concern to MMUA is particularly helpful.
9:15 am  Update on grants, Minnesota Department of Commerce
10:30 am  Updates on RECs
11:15 am  Keynote speaker
12:00 pm  Conference adjourns

Registration

$350 per person
Fee includes: conference materials, refreshment breaks, Tuesday lunch, reception and bus transportation.

Fee will increase $50 on February 23. Deadline to register is March 8.

DoubleTree by Hilton St. Paul Downtown
411 Minnesota Street, St. Paul, MN 55101

Reservations can be made online using our special link. You can also call the hotel directly at 651-291-8800 and ask for MMUA's Legislative Conference room block (group code 92S) to get our group rate. MMUA’s standard room rate is $139 per night plus tax for single or double occupancy. Check-in is 3:00 pm. Check-out is 12:00 pm.

Cut-off date: reservations must be made by March 9, 2024. Reservation requests received after this date will be accepted on a space and rate availability basis.

Transportation

Bus transportation will be provided for your visits to the Capitol. The bus will take attendees from the hotel to the Capitol starting at 12:30 pm and later back to the hotel.

Spouses/guests

We do not include meals for spouses/guests at this meeting, but we do encourage them to come along and enjoy area attractions. Contact Rita Kelly if you would like to arrange for an extra meal or to attend the evening reception.

Special dietary requests

Special dietary needs can be arranged by emailing Rita Kelly or calling 763.746.0707.

Cancellations/refunds

MMUA will issue a refund on advanced registrations, less $50 per person processing fee, provided MMUA is notified by 4:30 pm on March 8, 2024. Refunds issued to a credit card will be subject to an additional 3% fee. Sorry, no refunds after March 8.

Photographs

By registering for this event attendees authorize Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA) to photograph them at this event and use such photographs in MMUA marketing materials (both electronic and print). Attendees understand that they will not be paid for giving this consent.

Questions?

Contact Rita Kelly by email rkelly@mmua.org or phone 763-746-0707.