House passes bill to establish real estate appraisal board

A new advisory board for real estate appraisers could help oversee licensing issues, disciplinary matters, continuing education and industry-related trends, under a bill passed Tuesday by the House.

HF2829/SF2991*, sponsored by Rep. Tim O'Driscoll (R-Sartell) and Sen. Bill Weber (R-Luverne), would create the seven-member Real Estate Appraisal Advisory Board, responsible for providing input and recommendations to the Department of Commerce. The House passed the bill 127-0, as amended, sending it back to the Senate, where it was passed 64-1 May 3.

Under the bill, the department would appoint the board’s members, who have to be Minnesotans and reflect the geographic distribution of the state. Each member would be limited to two four-year terms and compensated $55 per day during board work.

The Commerce Department would have to supply the board with a quarterly report, and the board would be subject to Minnesota’s open meetings laws.