Autonomous mower technology research by the Department of Transportation authorization and appropriation

This bill authorizes Minnesota's Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to research autonomous mower technology for use on state-owned properties. Specifically, it requires MnDOT to study how robotic mowers could be used at rest areas, highway rights-of-way (including ditches and shoulders), and other public properties owned by the department. The bill appropriates $150,000 for this research, mandates purchasing equipment from Minnesota-based companies, and requires a report by February 2027 analyzing safety, cost-benefit, pilot project planning, and impacts on worker safety and maintenance needs. The research aims to determine if autonomous mowers could improve efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional methods.