HF 14 proposed a temporary moratorium on most light rail transit project development spending by the Metropolitan Council in seven Minnesota counties (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington). The bill prohibited funds for planning, design, environmental analysis, land acquisition, and construction of new light rail projects, but exempted the Southwest Light Rail (Green Line Extension) and prior contractor payments. The moratorium would have expired once the Green Line Extension began revenue operations. The bill was introduced, amended, and ultimately not passed by the legislature.
This bill appropriates $15 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to provide a grant to WE WIN Institute, Inc. (a nonprofit organization). The funds will be used to acquire and improve property in Minneapolis for academic, social, and culturally specific programming and food services specifically for Black students. The grant also covers property acquisition for community partnership spaces, as well as design, construction, and renovation of facilities. This is a one-time appropriation, separate from prior funding, and directly supports Black student programming in Minneapolis.
SF 253 appropriates $9.5 million from state bonds to fund capital improvements at Wright Technical Center in Buffalo, Minnesota. The funds will cover predesign, construction, renovation, and equipment for the center’s facilities, specifically targeting upgrades to mechanical, electrical, security systems, utility infrastructure, and site renovations. The bill authorizes the state to issue bonds up to $9.5 million under Minnesota Statutes for this purpose. It directly affects Wright Technical Center and its affiliated facilities by enabling critical infrastructure repairs and modernization.
SF 896 establishes a one-time transfer of funds to Minnesota's active transportation account. It directs $19.5 million from the general fund to the active transportation account for fiscal year 2024 and $19.215 million for fiscal year 2025, under Minnesota Statutes § 174.38. The bill amends prior law to set a base transfer amount of $8.155 million for fiscal year 2026 and $8.284 million for fiscal year 2027. This bill affects the state's active transportation funding mechanism by formalizing these specific transfers. (This is a procedural bill regarding fund allocation, not a new program.)
SF 567 bars former state officials from acting as lobbyists for seven years after leaving office. It directly affects former legislators, constitutional officers (like the governor or attorney general), and senior state department leaders (such as commissioners and their deputies). The bill prohibits these individuals from attempting to influence legislative or administrative actions during this seven-year period. This restriction applies to any lobbying activity, whether directly or through others, as defined under Minnesota's lobbying laws.
SF 930 establishes the Minnesota Health Plan, a universal health care program requiring all Minnesota residents to be covered. The plan mandates comprehensive coverage for medical, dental, vision, mental health, prescription drugs, and long-term care, with premiums based on income and no co-pays. It creates new entities including the Minnesota Health Board and Minnesota Health Fund to administer the program, ensure provider access, and negotiate fair prices. The bill requires the state to seek a federal waiver under the Affordable Care Act to implement this system. All Minnesotans, including temporary out-of-state residents and nonresident workers in Minnesota, would be eligible for coverage under this plan.
SF 931 establishes the Minnesota Health Plan, a state-run program guaranteeing health coverage for all Minnesota residents. It requires the plan to cover all necessary medical, dental, vision, mental health, and prescription services without co-pays, with premiums based on income. The bill creates a Minnesota Health Board to manage the plan, a Health Fund for financing, and new oversight roles like a patient advocate ombudsman. All residents automatically qualify, with specific rules for temporary out-of-state residents, visitors, and nonresident workers.
SF 929 would establish the Minnesota Health Plan to guarantee comprehensive healthcare coverage for all Minnesota residents. The plan requires coverage for all medically necessary care - including medical, dental, vision, mental health, prescription drugs, and long-term services - with premiums based on ability to pay and no co-pays. It mandates automatic eligibility for all Minnesotans (including temporary out-of-state residents and border community visitors), while requiring cost reductions through negotiated provider prices rather than care restrictions. The bill also creates new entities like the Minnesota Health Board and Health Fund to administer the plan.
This bill allows landlords to request criminal history background checks for nonresident tenant organizers before they enter rental properties or exercise organizing rights. Tenant organizers must consent to the check and pay the landlord the actual cost of the background check. Landlords may deny access if an organizer has a violent crime conviction (as defined in Minnesota law) or refuses to consent. The bill directly affects landlords and tenant organizers who are not residents of the specific property being organized.
This bill updates Minnesota's legal requirements for gasoline and ethanol specifications to align with current industry standards. It revises references in state law from outdated ASTM specifications (like D4814-11b and D4806-04a) to the latest versions (D4814-24a for gasoline and D4806-21a for ethanol). The bill requires that ethanol used in gasoline must meet the updated ASTM standard and that gasoline-ethanol blends comply with the new specifications. This affects gasoline producers, blenders, and ethanol manufacturers who must adhere to these revised technical requirements.
This bill allows local jurisdictions in Minnesota to choose ranked choice voting for their local elections, where voters rank candidates in order of preference rather than selecting just one. It establishes specific rules for how these elections would be conducted, including procedures for counting votes and handling ballots where a candidate is eliminated based on the rankings. The legislation also permits local areas to use electronic voting machines that can automatically reallocate votes to remaining candidates after an initial winner is determined. However, the bill did not pass during the 2024 legislative session and therefore will not become law.
This bill updates Minnesota child care laws by removing outdated language regarding a 2017 deadline for certifying license-exempt child care centers. The change directs the state commissioner to establish a new, flexible timeline for processing certification applications instead of adhering to the old fixed date. Directly affecting child care providers and the state licensing office, the legislation simplifies the administrative code without altering the core requirements for operating these facilities.
