SF 4496 Minnesota Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Telephone company regulation provisions modification

This bill modifies Minnesota telecommunications regulations to update rules for telephone companies, primarily affecting service providers and their customers. It clarifies requirements for law enforcement access to call information, simplifies reporting obligations for phone companies, and establishes discounted rates for schools and libraries through the federal E-rate program. The legislation also mandates that residential customers receive clear pricing notices for all available service options and allows companies to use electronic communication for these notices if customers opt in. Additionally, the bill repeals several outdated statutes related to public payphones and other legacy telecommunications provisions.

Issues: ✓ Technology

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 17, 2026 Last action Apr 28, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 5 edits · Apr 7, 2026

MODERATE

This bill updates Minnesota's telecommunications regulations to modernize rules for coin-operated phones, clarify promotion and pricing practices, and streamline reporting requirements. It removes outdated exemptions and repeals several old statutes to align current laws with modern service offerings and federal compliance needs.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of regulation by removing exemptions for coin-operated telephones regarding emergency access and relay services, while narrowing certain reporting obligations for competitive carriers.

REQUIREMENT

Updated coin-operated and public pay telephone rules to mandate immediate coin-free access to 911 and free access to telecommunications relay services for people with disabilities.

Revised promotion rules to allow carriers to offer discounts without filing notices, provided the service price remains above the incremental cost of the service.

Changed disclosure rules for local service options to require that paper copies of pricing information be provided to customers at no charge.

Simplified annual reporting requirements for local and competitive exchange carriers, limiting the data needed to basic contact and revenue information.

SCOPE

Repealed multiple outdated statutes related to rates, deposits, and special pricing that are no longer relevant to current telecommunications practices.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

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Key actions

Committee

Apr 7, 2026

Upper · Passed

Comm report: To pass as amended

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Committee

Referred to Commerce and Consumer Protection

upper

Mar 17, 2026

Introduced

Introduction and first reading

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors