Minnesota Bills

in committee · Minnesota · House May 14, 2026

HF 1049: School district eligibility for school library aid clarified.

This bill clarifies how Minnesota school districts and charter schools receive state library aid based on student enrollment. It specifies that regular school districts get aid equal to the greater of $16.11 per student or $40,000, while charter schools receive the greater of $16.11 per student or $20,000. The change retroactively applies to fiscal year 2024 and future years, ensuring consistent funding calculations. This directly affects all public school districts and charter schools eligible for state library aid under Minnesota Statutes.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Minnesota · House May 14, 2026

HF 3335: Slavery or involuntary servitude as criminal punishment for a crime prohibited, and constitutional amendment proposed.

HF 3335 proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment, removing the current exception in Minnesota's constitution that allows it for convicted criminals. The amendment would require voter approval at the 2026 general election, with the ballot question asking: "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to prohibit slavery or involuntary servitude as criminal punishment for a crime?" If passed, it would ban forced labor as a penalty for any crime, affecting Minnesota's criminal sentencing laws. This change would eliminate a historical loophole in the state constitution that permits involuntary servitude as punishment for offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Minnesota · House May 14, 2026

HF 3024: Foster youth bill of rights established.

HF 3024 establishes a "Foster Youth Bill of Rights" in Minnesota for children and youth in foster care, including those up to age 21 in extended foster care. It guarantees specific rights, such as receiving care matching what non-foster youth peers receive, protection from abuse (including verbal harassment and hate speech), access to belongings, and culturally appropriate services. The bill explicitly prohibits physical discipline, chemical restraints, excessive medication, group punishment, and neglect that denies these rights. These provisions aim to standardize care quality and ensure foster youth receive support aligned with their age, development, and cultural background.

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 13, 2026

SR 85: A Senate resolution congratulating 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year David Davis

This Senate resolution formally congratulates David Davis, a music teacher in St. Louis Park, on being named the 2026 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. The document highlights his specific achievements, noting that he is the first music educator to receive this state honor since 1999 and detailing his recognition for promoting equity and arts education. By passing this resolution, the Senate acknowledges his contributions to public education and directs the Secretary of the Senate to send an official copy of the document to him.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Minnesota · House May 13, 2026

HF 5134: Temporary moratorium on imposition of the motor fuels tax established, transfers made, and money appropriated.

This bill temporarily suspends the state motor fuels tax in Minnesota for a specific period in 2026, directly affecting drivers, fuel retailers, and businesses that purchase gasoline and diesel. Under the legislation, the tax rate is set to zero cents per gallon or per thousand cubic feet for all fuel types during the designated timeframe, which begins shortly after the bill is enacted and ends in early September 2026. To offset the lost revenue from this suspension, the state will transfer money from its general fund to the Department of Transportation to cover the costs that would have been collected from fuel taxes. The bill also allocates a one-time appropriation to the Department of Revenue to cover the administrative expenses required to implement this temporary tax pause.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

Keith Allen (R) · 34 co-sponsors

in committee · Minnesota · House May 13, 2026

HF 5137: Lawns to legumes program funding provided, and money appropriated.

This bill allocates $2 million each for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to fund the Lawns to Legumes program in Minnesota. The money will come from the state's general fund and be given to the Board of Water and Soil Resources to support the initiative. The program encourages landowners to replace grass lawns with legumes, which are plants that naturally enrich the soil and reduce the need for fertilizers. By providing this funding, the state aims to help implement the program's goals without changing the underlying rules or regulations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

in committee · Minnesota · House May 13, 2026

HF 5138: All-electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle surcharge modified.

This bill modifies the registration surcharges for all-electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in Minnesota. It establishes a new $75 fee for all-electric vehicles and removes the existing surcharge for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. The changes take effect for vehicle registration periods beginning on or after January 1, 2027. All revenue collected from these fees will be deposited into the highway user tax distribution fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Transportation

in committee · Minnesota · House May 13, 2026

HF 5141: State or a county authorized to acquire the property of a public utility or cooperative electric association through eminent domain.

This bill allows the state, counties, or municipalities in Minnesota to use eminent domain to take property owned by public utilities or electric cooperatives. It clarifies that while these entities can acquire the physical property, they cannot immediately gain the right to provide electric service during the legal process. The law also specifies that compensation paid to the utility must include the original cost of the property adjusted for depreciation, lost revenue, and other related expenses. This change directly affects government bodies planning infrastructure projects and the utility companies that might have their land taken for those purposes.

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 13, 2026

SF 5290: Addition requirement for certain pharmaceutical marketing expenses

This bill requires pharmaceutical manufacturers in Minnesota to add back certain direct-to-consumer advertising expenses when calculating their state income and franchise taxes. It specifically targets marketing costs for prescription drugs and biologics that are directed at consumers through media channels like television, radio, print, and social media. The legislation does not change how these companies deduct these costs for federal tax purposes but instead prevents them from using those same deductions to lower their Minnesota tax liability. These changes will take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Minnesota · House May 13, 2026

HF 4980: Calculation of compensatory aid for fiscal year 2027 modified, allocation of compensatory aid for fiscal year 2028 modified, and money appropriated.

HF 4980 modifies how Minnesota calculates and distributes compensatory education funding for school buildings in fiscal years 2027 and 2028. The bill changes the revenue formula to be based on the number of compensatory pupils rather than a fixed allowance per pupil and introduces a minimum funding floor for the 2027 school year. It also increases the percentage of funds school districts can reallocate to specific sites from 20 percent to 40 percent for these two years. Finally, the legislation appropriates money from the general fund to the commissioner of education to support these changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Minnesota · House May 13, 2026

HF 4972: Civil arrests for persons attending court proceedings prohibited, and civil remedies provided.

HF 4972 prohibits law enforcement from making civil immigration arrests against individuals attending court proceedings, including parties, witnesses, and their supporters like family members or translators. The law defines a 'civil arrest' as taking someone into custody for immigration violations and grants these individuals protection while traveling to, being at, and leaving court buildings or locations within 1,000 feet of them. This protection applies to all types of court matters, including civil, criminal, and administrative cases, and remains in effect regardless of whether a judge issues a specific order enforcing it.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Immigration

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 13, 2026

SF 5233: Reduction to local government aid establishment to a county or city that uses the incorrect state flag

This bill proposes reducing state financial aid by 10% for any Minnesota county or city that displays a state flag different from the officially certified design. To enforce this, the state's commissioner of revenue would cut aid payments for the year following any instance where a local government uses the incorrect flag, and affected localities must notify the commissioner annually by December 31. The penalty applies specifically to aid distributed under state statutes and would only take effect starting with payments made in 2027.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

Bill results