Minnesota Bills

This bill creates a sales tax exemption for construction materials and equipment used to build, remodel, expand, or improve county courthouse facilities in Minnesota. The exemption applies to materials and supplies consumed during construction projects and equipment permanently incorporated into the courthouse buildings. Under the bill, sales tax would still be collected at the standard rate but would be refunded to the buyer, similar to how other exempt construction projects are currently handled. The changes take effect for purchases made after June 30, 2026, and align courthouse construction with existing tax exemptions for other public and essential facility projects.

This bill adjusts the forecasted program budgets for Minnesota's Department of Human Services and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It modifies specific funding amounts for programs like General Assistance, Minnesota Supplemental Aid, Housing Support, MinnesotaCare, and Medical Assistance by adding or subtracting money from existing appropriations. The changes are drawn from the General Fund and the Health Care Access Fund, with some programs receiving increased funding while others see adjustments. The bill directly affects state budget planning and the financial resources available to these human services agencies.

This bill authorizes the state to sell up to $3.15 million in bonds to fund the St. Cloud Mississippi Riverwalk Connection Project. The funds will be used to design, build, and equip a pedestrian pathway along the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, including trail construction, lighting, landscaping, and shoreline improvements. The money will come from the bond proceeds fund and is designated for the city of St. Cloud to carry out the infrastructure work. If approved, the bonds will be issued following state laws governing public debt.

This bill would limit legal liability for corporations and other entities that donate services, livestock, facilities, or equipment to nonprofit organizations hosting livestock events. Under the proposed changes, these donors would not be held responsible for injuries or deaths that occur to participants due to the inherent risks of livestock activities. The immunity would apply to causes of action arising on or after August 1, 2025, and would affect nonprofit groups organizing events such as rodeos, horse shows, and livestock competitions. The legislation amends existing Minnesota statutes to clarify the scope of liability protection for corporate supporters of these events.

This bill creates a new Land Monument Protection Fund in Minnesota to support the Public Land Survey System monument grant program. It establishes new recording fees for mortgages and deeds that will be collected by county recorders and deposited into this fund. The mortgage recording fee is set at 0.23% of the debt amount, while deed recording fees vary based on transfer value, ranging from a flat $1.65 to 0.33% of net consideration for larger transfers. All revenue generated from these fees will be used to fund the monument grant program, with the changes taking effect on July 1, 2026.

This bill defines portable solar generation devices as movable photovoltaic systems with a maximum output of 1,200 watts that connect to standard 120-volt outlets and include features to prevent energizing a building during power outages. It exempts these devices from utility interconnection and net metering requirements, meaning users do not need utility approval, pay installation fees, or add extra equipment to use them. The legislation also clarifies that utilities are not liable for damage caused by these devices and exempts their installation from certain electrical code planning requirements while still applying wiring standards.

This bill modifies prior appropriations to provide funding for a rail grade crossing separation project at Sturgeon Lake Road in the city of Red Wing. The legislation allocates $14,762,000 from one appropriation and $10,000,000 from bond proceeds to cover right-of-way acquisition, environmental analysis, design, engineering, and construction costs. Additionally, the bill allows any unspent funds from the Red Wing allocation to be used for capital improvements to Sturgeon Lake Road in the project area. The funding authorization for the project is extended until December 31, 2024, to ensure the project can be completed within the specified timeframe.

This bill directs the Minnesota Department of Education to update social studies standards by 2030-2031 to include specific information about the dangers and perils of communism and socialism. The amendment requires that these updates include estimated lives lost under these political systems and negative outcomes associated with them. The change applies to public schools in Minnesota and becomes effective on July 1, 2026. The bill does not mandate immediate curriculum changes but sets a timeline for future standards revision.

This bill allocates $10 million from the state's general fund in fiscal year 2027 to support the Allied Radio Matrix for Emergency Response (ARMER) public safety radio system in Minnesota. The money will be distributed as grants to local governments, federally recognized Tribal entities, and state agencies to purchase or upgrade portable and mobile radios that can communicate with the existing ARMER Next system. Each eligible recipient can receive only one grant, and the program requires a minimum five percent match from nonstate funds, with 33 percent of the total amount reserved for local units within the metropolitan area. The Department of Public Safety's Emergency Communication Networks division will manage the grants, subject to approval by the Statewide Emergency Communications Board, and the funds are available until June 30, 2029.

This bill modifies Minnesota's human services background study and licensing procedures to strengthen program integrity and fraud prevention. It clarifies definitions for terms like "convicted" and "credible allegation of fraud," which now includes verified complaints, data mining results, audit patterns, and court documents. The legislation allows law enforcement to delay background check notifications for up to 90 days when an investigation could be compromised, and it expands the commissioner's authority to withhold payments from providers or associated entities involved in fraud or criminal convictions. These changes apply to individuals and organizations receiving payments from state or federal human services programs.

This bill creates a new specific crime called theft of public funds in Minnesota, targeting individuals who steal or defraud money held by government entities or third parties administering public programs. The law defines public funds as all money held or administered by government entities and outlines three main ways someone can commit this crime: intentionally taking public funds without consent, deceiving officials to obtain funds through false claims or promises, or using tricks or schemes to secure public money. Penalties depend on the amount stolen, with sentences ranging from up to six years and fines up to $10,000 for smaller amounts to up to 24 years and fines up to $100,000 for larger thefts, and multiple offenses within six months can be combined for sentencing. The new crime would only apply to actions committed on or after August 1, 2026.

This bill requires the Minnesota commissioner of transportation to update railroad safety rules by July 1, 2027, to mandate that crossing bells be silenced when trains approach crossings or when gates are closing, unless the crossing is within 1,000 feet of residential property. The legislation directly affects railroad operators and transportation officials responsible for managing railroad crossings across the state. The rulemaking process may use a simplified procedure that bypasses certain standard review requirements to expedite the implementation of these safety modifications.