Constitutional Amendment proposal to prohibit unfunded mandates by the state to local governments

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to stop the state of Minnesota from requiring local governments to implement new programs or rules without providing the money needed to pay for them. Under the plan, any state law or agency rule that forces local units to spend more on compliance would be unenforceable unless the legislature first appropriates full funding based on objective cost estimates. The amendment includes exceptions for criminal laws, federally mandated requirements, emergency measures passed by a two-thirds legislative vote, locally approved ordinances, and rules with a fiscal impact under one percent of a local budget. If voters approve this change at the 2026 general election, the new restrictions on unfunded mandates would take effect on January 1, 2027.