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.
This bill modifies how Minnesota's state grant program for higher education is funded and administered, directly affecting students and the Office of Higher Education. It establishes a new annual appropriation from the state's general fund to cover the costs of state grants and updates the rules for awarding grants based on available funds. The legislation also removes existing provisions that allowed the office to adjust family and student responsibility amounts when grant funds were insufficient or surplus. All changes in the bill take effect on July 1, 2026.
This bill authorizes the sale of up to $5,000,000 in state bonds to fund community tree-planting grants. The money will be provided to the Metropolitan Council, which will distribute the funds to support tree-planting projects in Minnesota communities. The legislation requires the commissioner of management and budget to issue the bonds following state procedures and constitutional requirements. Once enacted, the funding becomes available immediately for the Metropolitan Council to administer the grant program.
This bill modifies Minnesota's medical cannabis endorsement requirements, primarily affecting cannabis businesses that cultivate, process, or sell medical cannabis products. It updates the rules for issuing retail endorsements by requiring businesses to either employ a certified medical cannabis consultant or contract with a licensed pharmacist to provide final authorization for patient dispensing. The legislation also clarifies that retail businesses must verify patient registry enrollment and confirm identity before distributing products, while mandating that all medical cannabis flower and cannabinoid products pass safety and potency testing before distribution. Additionally, the bill restricts home delivery of medical cannabis products to businesses that hold a separate cannabis delivery service license. These changes aim to standardize oversight and safety protocols across the state's medical cannabis program.
