This bill modifies how Minnesota acquires land for state parks, establishes specific payment formulas for stream easements, and adds or removes certain parcels from state park boundaries. It requires the commissioner of natural resources to prepare fact sheets and appraisals before acquiring land, limits purchase prices to within ten percent of appraised values, and sets a fixed payment structure for stream easements based on stream length, corridor size, and market values. The legislation also authorizes the commissioner to acquire access easements to native prairie for up to 50 percent of the standard payment rate and adds specific land parcels to Frontenac and Great River Bluffs State Parks while removing one area from Mille Lacs Kathio State Park.
This bill requires independent presidential elector petitions in Minnesota to include sworn certifications confirming that the presidential and vice presidential candidates meet all constitutional eligibility requirements. It also mandates that major political party candidates submit an affidavit under oath stating they are not running for any other state office and meet constitutional qualifications. The Secretary of State would be prohibited from placing presidential or vice presidential candidates on the ballot without these certifications, which would also disqualify any associated elector nominees. These changes apply to non-major party candidates while major party candidates already undergo similar certification processes under existing law.
This bill authorizes Minnesota peace officers to use oral fluid screening devices to detect drugs in drivers suspected of driving while impaired. It allows officers to require a preliminary breath or oral fluid test when they have reason to believe a driver is violating impaired driving laws, including those involving commercial vehicles. If the screening test indicates drug presence or a high alcohol level, officers can then require a more comprehensive chemical test of blood, breath, or urine. The law also expands implied consent conditions to include situations where a screening test shows the presence of controlled substances or intoxicating substances.
This bill establishes a registration system for residential common interest communities, such as condominiums and homeowners associations, within Minnesota's Department of Commerce. The law requires these communities to annually submit detailed information including their legal name, contact details, board officer information, governing documents, and financial data. Communities under master developer control must also provide developer-specific details, while those using property management companies must share contract information. Each community must pay a $55 annual fee to maintain the register, and the Department of Commerce will notify communities that fail to register within 60 days.
This bill requires health impact assessments for certain proposed projects to evaluate how they might affect human health, directly affecting government agencies and entities that approve or fund construction and development projects. It establishes a systematic, evidence-based process that must be completed before decisions are made on actions with potential significant environmental effects, requiring agencies to analyze physiological, social, economic, and other health-related factors. The legislation assigns specific duties to the commissioner of health and authorizes the Environmental Quality Board to create rules defining which projects need assessments, including exemptions for smaller ethanol and biobutanol facilities outside the metropolitan area. Additionally, the bill creates a public comment period for environmental assessment worksheets and sets requirements for publishing notices and gathering community input before determining if a full health impact assessment is necessary.
This bill modifies Minnesota's rent proration rules to require landlords to charge tenants only for the actual number of days they occupy a rental unit during the first or last month of a lease. It applies to all residential leases, including those that require advance payment of the first or last month's rent, and makes these proration requirements mandatory and unwaivable. The law also prohibits lease clauses that limit tenants' legal remedies for violations of this section, such as mandatory arbitration or class action waivers. These changes take effect immediately upon enactment and apply to new leases signed on or after that date.
This bill limits the use of strip searches for incarcerated people in Minnesota state correctional facilities when they meet with visitors. It allows facility leaders to use body scanners or other less invasive screening methods instead of strip searches unless there is a specific, documented security threat. The law requires that any strip search conducted in this context be justified by credible security concerns and authorized through established rules. This change aims to reduce the frequency of invasive searches while maintaining security protocols during visitor interactions.
This bill authorizes the issuance of up to $35 million in state bonds to fund flood hazard mitigation projects in Minnesota's Red River Basin. The funds will be distributed through grants to three watershed districts for specific infrastructure improvements, including river rehabilitation and water retention projects. The legislation allows for a higher state contribution of up to 75 percent of project costs, which is an increase from the standard grant rate, and includes provisions for calculating local matching requirements based on household income levels. The bill takes effect immediately upon final enactment and directs the commissioner of natural resources to manage the distribution of these funds.
This bill requires Minnesota public agencies to publicly disclose information about child fatalities and near fatalities when criminal charges are filed, a county attorney certifies charges would have occurred but for the person's death, or a child protection investigation finds maltreatment. The law mandates that these disclosures include details such as the cause and circumstances of the incident, the child's age and gender, prior maltreatment reports, investigation results, and actions taken by welfare agencies, while protecting confidential data, private records, and the identities of information providers. Additionally, the bill strengthens local child mortality review teams by requiring them to interview caseworkers without fear of retaliation and establishes timelines for completing joint and local reviews of critical incidents. Local review teams must also include at least one representative from the child's Tribe if the case involves an Indian child, and all review reports must be made available on the Department of Children, Youth, and Families website within 60 days.
This bill requires Minnesota's Department of Transportation to update how it evaluates and plans certain transportation projects, specifically those involving construction, reconstruction, or capacity changes that need environmental reviews. It mandates that officials create a "purpose and need" statement that considers all possible approaches rather than assuming a specific improvement is necessary, while also incorporating safety, community input, and cost efficiency alongside traditional traffic metrics. The legislation also calls for a detailed scoping document that identifies stakeholders, analyzes different transportation modes like roads and transit, and includes field visits to understand local conditions before projects are approved for state funding. These changes apply to major highway projects but exclude routine maintenance activities like resurfacing or bridge repairs.
This bill establishes pilot projects to modernize Minnesota's human services information technology systems, directing funding to counties and Tribes to improve system efficiency and reduce errors. It creates an advisory group composed of county representatives, social services administrators, and state officials to oversee and approve these projects, which may include using artificial intelligence tools, expanding data access, and simplifying case processing. The legislation requires a report by January 2028 detailing the funded projects, their outcomes, and recommendations for future system improvements.
This bill establishes a formal process for updating the investment return assumption used to calculate joint and survivor annuities in Minnesota's covered retirement plans. It sets a default assumption of 6.5 percent but allows retirement plan governing boards to propose different percentages, which must be approved by the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement or deemed approved after one year without commission action. The executive director of the commission is required to update the official actuarial standards appendix whenever an assumption change is approved or deemed approved. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026, and directly affects retirement plan administrators and the state's pension commission.
