This bill requires cities in Minnesota to accept building project applications and documentation electronically, including through email, digital files, and electronic signatures. It applies to home rule charter cities and statutory cities of the first, second, or third class, while exempting smaller municipalities outside metropolitan counties. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, and does not alter other existing building code enforcement rules or procedures.
This bill modifies Minnesota's fencing requirements for farmed deer and elk, requiring all perimeter fences to be at least 96 inches tall and constructed to prevent both animal escapes and entry by wild deer or elk. It mandates that all new or repaired fencing use high-tensile wire and requires facilities to have two redundant gates at entry points. The bill also establishes enforcement measures, including a 14-day repair deadline for fence deficiencies, reinspection fees for violations, and the possibility of revoking facility registration and seizing animals if multiple escapes occur or deficiencies remain uncorrected.
This bill strengthens penalties for transferring firearms to individuals who are legally prohibited from owning them, such as those with prior disqualifying convictions or permit denials. It increases the maximum prison sentence for such transfers from two to three years and establishes a mandatory minimum of three years for cases where the recipient uses the weapon within a year to commit a violent felony. The legislation also removes a legal defense that previously allowed defendants to claim they transferred a firearm under duress from a family member, making it harder for violators to avoid prosecution. These changes directly affect firearm owners, sellers, and law enforcement by tightening restrictions on gun transfers to ineligible persons.
This bill modifies how cannabis licenses are issued in Minnesota by changing application periods and the number of licenses available for different license types. It sets specific maximum license limits for social equity and general applicants before July 1, 2026, and requires the state office to determine future license numbers based on established goals while ensuring social equity applicants receive equal or greater access than general applicants. The bill also updates application procedures by requiring advance announcements of licensing periods with specific details and allowing certain license types like wholesalers and transporters to be applied for at any time. Additionally, it clarifies that the office is not required to issue the maximum number of licenses and establishes a 14-day window for applicants to correct incomplete applications.
This Senate resolution formally honors Terese Hemmingsen for her significant contributions to nursing in Minnesota. The measure recognizes her extensive clinical experience, academic leadership, and development of scholarship programs that support nursing students. It directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare an official copy of the resolution and send it to Ms. Hemmingsen as a gesture of appreciation.
This bill authorizes the issuance of up to $5,250,000 in state bonds to fund the rehabilitation of the Willard Munger state trail system in Pine County, Minnesota. The funds will be used by the commissioner of natural resources to design and construct improvements on the trail between the cities of Hinckley and Finlayson. The legislation directs the commissioner of management and budget to sell and issue the bonds according to existing state statutes and constitutional requirements. Once enacted, the appropriation becomes effective the day following final passage by the legislature.
This bill authorizes the City of Glencoe to impose a local sales and use tax of up to 0.5% if approved by voters in a special election. The tax revenue would be used to fund specific park improvements and trail network upgrades, including projects at Oak Leaf Park, Lincoln Park, Glenn Knoll Park, Railroad Depot Park, and the city trail system. The legislation also allows the city to issue up to $2.725 million in bonds to help finance these projects, with the tax revenue serving as a source of repayment. The tax would expire after 15 years or once the city determines sufficient funds have been collected to cover all project costs and bond-related expenses.
This bill requires Minnesota school boards to establish a process for including student representation on their advisory teams. It changes the current language that merely encourages student involvement to a mandatory requirement for all school boards. The new provision applies starting with the 2026-2027 school year and affects public school districts across the state. School boards will need to create specific methods for students to participate in advising their board members on educational matters.
This bill modifies how Minnesota calculates transition aid for local governments that host electric generating plants powered by coal, nuclear, or natural gas. It changes the criteria for qualifying jurisdictions to receive financial assistance when these power plants retire or switch fuel sources, with new rules taking effect for aid payments in 2027 and later. The legislation updates how aid amounts are calculated based on tax capacity changes and introduces stricter thresholds for continuing to receive aid, including a provision that eliminates aid if a jurisdiction's overall tax capacity grows beyond certain limits. Local governments, public utilities, and the state Department of Revenue are the primary entities affected by these changes to the existing aid program.
This bill requires utility companies in Minnesota to consider nuclear power as an option when planning their energy resources, though it does not mandate that they choose it. It also directs the state Department of Commerce to actively seek federal funding for nuclear power projects and report annually on these efforts to state legislators. Utilities that decide against selecting nuclear power must explain their reasoning in their resource plans, while the state must apply for eligible federal nuclear funding opportunities and document why it declines any projects it cannot participate in. The changes take effect immediately upon passage, with utility resource plans filed after September 1, 2026, being subject to the new nuclear inclusion requirement.
This bill directs the Minnesota Commissioner of Health to work toward joining the World Health Organization's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN). The commissioner must identify the necessary application process by September 1, 2026, and begin applying to join the network by December 1, 2026. The legislation affects the Minnesota Department of Health by requiring it to connect with an international system for tracking and responding to disease outbreaks. This change aims to integrate the state's public health infrastructure with global outbreak monitoring efforts.
This bill authorizes Dakota County to receive $22 million in state bond funds to replace aging and unsafe buildings and facilities at its regional parks. The funding will be used to upgrade infrastructure at Lebanon Hills Regional Park and Lake Byllesby Regional Park, including new swimming beach facilities with accessible restrooms, improved campground lodges with storm shelters, and updated trails and amenities. To finance the project, the state will issue bonds up to $22 million, with the money drawn from the bond proceeds fund. The legislation takes effect immediately upon final passage by the legislature.
