Minnesota Bills

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SF 921: Washington County road improvements bond issuance and appropriation

This bill appropriates $22.5 million in state bond proceeds to fund the design and construction of realigning County Road 19A and 100th Street South in Cottage Grove, Washington County. The funds will be provided to Washington County through a grant administered by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The state will issue bonds up to $22.5 million under existing state bond laws to cover this project. The bill becomes effective the day after final enactment.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SF 3347: Minnesota clearance grant program provision, law enforcement solve rate of crimes involving nonfatal shootings increase provision, and appropriation

This bill establishes Minnesota's "Minnesota Clearance Grant Program" to help law enforcement agencies improve their resolution rates for nonfatal shooting incidents. It directly affects local police departments and sheriff's offices that investigate nonfatal shootings by providing state funding for targeted resources. Key provisions include granting priority to agencies with high unsolved cases or limited staffing, allowing funds for hiring investigators, forensic equipment, victim-witness coordinators, and technology to share data across agencies, and requiring biannual reports on clearance rates and program impact. The bill appropriates specific funds for fiscal years 2026-2028 to support these concrete improvements in investigating nonfatal shootings.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 25, 2026

HF 3236: Requirements for water appropriations permits modified.

HF 3236 modifies Minnesota's requirements for groundwater appropriation permits. It requires applicants to submit detailed geologic data about well sites, specific pumpage rates, water quality assessments, and results from aquifer tests conducted at the requested pumping rate. The bill also clarifies that applicants bear all costs for aquifer tests and monitoring, and sets a 150-day deadline (or 120 days after test results) for permit decisions. This directly affects businesses, agricultural operations, and developers seeking groundwater permits by increasing application documentation and cost responsibilities.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SF 3002: Mitigated departures provision for certain offenders who have been victims

This bill allows courts to sentence offenders below standard guidelines if they were victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or sex trafficking. It requires presentence reports to include information about such victimization and permits courts to order reduced sentences when the victimization contributed to the offense and serves the public interest. Offenders placed on probation may also be required to participate in trauma-focused treatment. The law applies to felony sentencing hearings starting August 1, 2025, and affects individuals convicted of crimes who were previously victims of these specific offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 25, 2026

HF 3198: Northwest Metro Regional Real Time Crime Center funding provided, report required, and money appropriated.

HF 3198 appropriates $2 million for fiscal year 2026 and $1 million for fiscal year 2027 from the state general fund to the city of Brooklyn Park. This funds the Northwest Metro Regional Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), which serves six participating cities (Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, New Hope, and Robbinsdale) to enhance public safety through real-time data analysis, coordination between law enforcement agencies, and community intervention staff. The RTCC must operate as a centralized facility with technology and staff to monitor and respond to criminal activity across jurisdictional lines. An advisory board, composed of police department representatives and mayors from each city, oversees the center and must submit biennial reports to the governor and legislative committees starting in 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SF 1201: Require a report on school district and charter health insurance

This bill clarifies how Minnesota school districts and charter schools receive library funding. It specifies that for fiscal year 2024 and later, independent/special school districts get aid equal to the greater of $16.11 per adjusted pupil unit or $40,000, while charter schools get the greater of $16.11 per unit or $20,000. The change applies retroactively to fiscal year 2024. The bill directly affects school districts and charter schools by defining their library aid calculations under existing funding rules.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 25, 2026

HF 2317: Wastewater treatment facility heat capture pilot program funding provided, and money appropriated.

HF 2317 appropriates $1 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to the Pollution Control Agency to fund a pilot program capturing waste heat from wastewater treatment facilities. The program requires identifying feasible sites across Minnesota, quantifying available heat energy, and funding engineering studies for one project in the seven-county metro area and one outside it. By December 2027, the agency must report to legislators on identified sites, challenges and benefits of heat capture systems, and potential future funding sources. This bill directly affects wastewater treatment facilities statewide by exploring a new method to repurpose waste heat for community heating systems.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SF 486: Supplemental energy assistance grant program establishment and appropriation

This bill establishes a state-funded supplemental energy assistance program in Minnesota to help low-income households with heating costs. It directly affects Minnesota residents with household incomes below 60% of the state median income, providing grants for primary heat, crisis situations, emergency heating repairs, or outreach support. Key mechanisms include appropriating one-time state funds for FY2026 (available until 2031), requiring priority for expanding assistance to new households over increasing existing grants, and mandating annual reports on program outcomes by county and demographic factors. The program supplements existing federal LIHEAP benefits for households that did not receive full federal crisis grants or were not served by federal programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SF 2900: Geothermal heat exchange system rebate program establishment and appropriation

This bill establishes a state rebate program for commercial and multifamily buildings installing geothermal heating and cooling systems. Eligible applicants (including businesses, nonprofits, and government entities) must have applied for federal rebates under the Inflation Reduction Act, complete a certified energy audit, and provide installation documentation. Rebates cover up to 15% of system costs or net costs after other funding, capped at $100,000 per project. Priority is given to nonprofit or government-owned low-income housing projects meeting specific affordability criteria.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 25, 2026

HF 771: Supplemental energy assistance funding provided, annual report required, and money appropriated.

HF 771 establishes a supplemental energy assistance grant program in Minnesota to provide additional support for low-income households that may not have received full federal energy assistance. It targets residents with household incomes below 60% of the state median income, offering crisis grants, primary heat assistance, emergency heating repairs, and outreach support. The bill appropriates a specific sum for fiscal year 2026 (with up to 10% for administration and 5% for outreach to underserved communities) and requires the commissioner to publish annual reports starting in 2026 detailing program participation, benefits, and demographic data by county. This program operates alongside federal LIHEAP funding but prioritizes expanding assistance to new households over increasing aid for existing recipients.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy

in committee · Minnesota · House Mar 25, 2026

HF 641: Fourth-degree assault crime expanded related to nurses, physicians, and other persons providing health care services.

HF 641 expands Minnesota's fourth-degree assault law to specifically protect healthcare workers. It makes it a felony to physically assault a nurse, physician, or other healthcare provider in a hospital emergency department, causing physical injury. The penalty includes up to two years in prison, a $4,000 fine, or both. This law applies to crimes committed on or after August 1, 2025, and directly affects healthcare workers providing emergency care. The bill adds this protection alongside existing safeguards for firefighters and emergency medical personnel.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SF 2621: Constitutional Amendment proposal to increase the sales tax rate by three-eighths of one percent and dedicating the receipts for housing purposes; Homeownership opportunity fund, community and household stability fund, and rental opportunity fund establishment; fund councils establishment

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to increase Minnesota's sales tax rate by 0.375% (three-eighths of one percent) starting July 1, 2027, for 25 years (through 2052). The revenue would fund three new housing-specific accounts: a homeownership fund (25% of revenue) for home purchases/rehabilitation, a community stability fund (25%) for emergency aid and services for homeless or at-risk households, and a rental fund (50%) for rental assistance and supportive housing. All funds must supplement, not replace, existing housing programs. The amendment requires voter approval at the 2026 general election before implementation.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Bill results