HF 361 Minnesota House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Capitol Mall Design Framework availability of an appropriation for implementation extended.

HF 361 extends the deadline for using funds to implement the Capitol Mall Design Framework until June 30, 2025. It appropriates $4.5 million for the city of St. Paul to improve livability, economic health, and safety in the Capitol Area, including $500,000 specifically for technical assistance through the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board to help residents and businesses apply for community grants. The bill repeals and cancels the previous Capitol Area community vitality account established in 2023, transferring any remaining funds to the general fund. This legislation directly affects the city of St. Paul, the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board, and local businesses and residents in the Capitol Area.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 13, 2025 Last action Apr 7, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 6 edits · Apr 7, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended from its introduction to its first engrossment, shifting the focus from appropriating new funds to extending the availability of existing funds for the Capitol Mall Design Framework update. The legislative text was significantly reorganized, replacing the original repeal of a 2023 law with an amendment to extend the funding deadline to June 30, 2026, and adding a retroactive effective date of July 1, 2024. While the original version included specific appropriations for community vitality grants and a repealer section, the engrossment version consolidates these into a broader appropriation list and removes the repeal language, indicating a change in legislative intent to sustain rather than terminate the previous funding structure.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a standalone act repealing a prior law and establishing new accounts to an amendment extending the timeline for an existing appropriation and integrating it into a larger appropriations bill.

TIMELINE

The deadline for using funds to implement the Capitol Mall Design Framework was extended from an unspecified date to June 30, 2026.

The effective date of the bill was changed to be retroactive to July 1, 2024, rather than starting from the introduction date.

SCOPE

The provision repealing Laws 2023, chapter 53, article 17, section 2 was removed from the text.

FISCAL

Specific line-item appropriations for community vitality grants and the cancellation of the Capitol Area community vitality account were removed.

A comprehensive list of various state appropriations and transfers was added, including funds for the Council on Developmental Disabilities, disparity studies, and the Office of Enterprise Translations.

DEFINITION

The detailed definitions and specific usage rules for 'nonstate funds' and the 'Capitol Mall Design Framework update' were removed and replaced with general appropriation language.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt as amended and re-refer to Ways and Means

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced

Introduction and first reading, referred to State Government Finance and Policy

lower

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors