Minnesota Bills

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 6, 2026

SF 5263: Certain graduation requirements for international baccalaureate program students waiver provision

This bill allows Minnesota school districts and charter schools to waive specific graduation credit requirements for students enrolled in International Baccalaureate programs. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, eligible students who are on track to complete their IB diploma or career-related program can receive these waivers if the school determines that requiring the credits would prevent them from pursuing their IB studies. The waiver is granted upon parental application and can be revoked if a student is not on track by the start of grade 12, at which point they must complete the originally required credits.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Minnesota · House May 6, 2026

HF 4173: Certain defined terms maintained, and data center exemptions modified.

This bill modifies Minnesota's tax exemption rules for data centers by creating a new category for large-scale facilities and updating the definition of enterprise information technology equipment. It directly affects businesses constructing or operating data centers in the state by changing the financial thresholds required to qualify for sales tax exemptions on equipment and software. The legislation defines a qualified large-scale data center as a facility with at least 25,000 square feet and a minimum investment of $250 million over 60 months, while also clarifying what counts as enterprise information technology equipment for tax purposes. These changes will take effect on July 1, 2026, and apply to purchases made after that date.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology

in committee · Minnesota · House May 6, 2026

HF 3936: Greater Minnesota public television station operations funding provided, and money appropriated.

This bill appropriates $1,925,000 from Minnesota's general fund to support the operations of five public television stations in Greater Minnesota for fiscal year 2026. The funding is distributed as specific grants to Pioneer PBS, Lakeland PBS, KSMQ, PBS North, and Prairie Public television, with amounts ranging from $200,000 to $650,000 for each station. The legislation takes effect the day after it is officially enacted and directs the commissioner of administration to manage the distribution of these funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · Minnesota · Senate May 6, 2026

SF 3593: Constitutional Amendment proposal to modify the permanent school fund investment, management, and distribution policy

SF 3593 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how Minnesota's Permanent School Fund calculates annual distributions to school districts. It replaces the current "investment income" formula with a new "distributable amount" based on 4.5% of the fund's average net asset value over the previous three fiscal years. This change aims to ensure more stable, predictable annual payments while preserving the fund's long-term value for future school funding. The amendment requires voter approval at the 2026 general election and would take effect July 1, 2027. School districts across Minnesota would directly receive these revised annual distributions.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 6, 2026

SF 3840: State Fire Code alcohol-blended fuel equipment compatibility standards

This bill establishes safety standards for fuel dispensing equipment used with alcohol-blended fuels containing more than 10% ethanol. It requires such equipment (including dispensers, hoses, nozzles, and pumps) to have third-party safety certification for the specific ethanol concentration (within 5 percentage points) and written manufacturer certification of compatibility. These rules apply directly to fuel station operators and equipment manufacturers in Minnesota. The requirements aim to ensure equipment safety without altering existing fire safety provisions like electrical classifications or emergency shutoff systems.

Topics ✓ Energy

died · Minnesota · Senate May 6, 2026

SF 3587: Hospital construction moratorium exception provision

SF 3587 creates specific exceptions to Minnesota's hospital construction moratorium, which generally prohibits increasing bed capacity or building new hospitals. The bill allows certain projects to proceed, including pediatric bed consolidations in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, additions of up to 35 beds in a Rice County psychiatric hospital serving out-of-state patients, and limited bed increases in specific counties (Beltrami, Otter Tail, Carver, Itasca). It directly affects hospitals meeting these narrow criteria, such as those with national referral status or existing approved projects. The key mechanism is listing qualifying projects that bypass the moratorium restrictions, ensuring they can expand or relocate beds without requiring a certificate of need.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · Minnesota · Senate May 6, 2026

SF 3955: Commissioner of veterans affairs permission to close veterans homes under certain circumstances

This bill amends Minnesota Statutes to allow the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs to close a veterans home if required by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) after receiving an involuntary termination notice. It requires the commissioner to first safely transfer all residents to appropriate settings under existing law, and to notify the governor and relevant legislative committees before closing. The change specifically permits closures under CMS mandates while maintaining existing protections for residents. This directly affects Minnesota veterans homes and the veterans/spouses residing in them who may be relocated under these conditions.

in committee · Minnesota · House May 6, 2026

HF 2904: Public employees insurance program regulated, participation by certain school employers required, and money appropriated.

HF 2904 requires certain Minnesota school employers - including school districts, charter schools, and vocational education centers - to join the state's public employees insurance program. It establishes an "educator group insurance program" specifically for school employees, mandating coverage tiers that match existing school employee pool options and including high-deductible plans. The bill creates a labor management committee with 12 members (including seven from Education Minnesota and representatives from unions and school administrators) to study program issues like cost efficiency. It also requires mutual agreement between the commissioner and the committee before changing cost-sharing plans. This bill directly affects school employees and their employers by integrating them into the state's insurance framework with specific administrative structures.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Liz Reyer (D) · 33 co-sponsors

signed · Minnesota · Senate May 6, 2026

SF 1251: Expiration removal of crossbow hunting and fishing allowance

This bill removes the June 30, 2025 expiration date from Minnesota’s crossbow hunting and fishing allowance. It directly affects hunters and anglers who use crossbows to take deer, bear, turkey, common carp, or native rough fish during regular archery seasons. The key provision amends Minnesota Statutes section 97B.037 to eliminate the sunset provision, making the crossbow allowance permanent. This change ensures the existing crossbow hunting and fishing rules remain in effect without needing future legislative action to extend them. The bill does not alter the current requirements for licenses, transportation, or crossbow specifications.

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 5, 2026

SF 5261: Tax preparers marking a tax return designating a contribution to the state elections campaign account without explicit instruction from the taxpayer prohibition provision

This bill prohibits tax preparers in Minnesota from marking a tax return to designate a contribution to the state elections campaign account unless the taxpayer explicitly instructs them to do so. The legislation amends existing standards of conduct for tax professionals to add this specific restriction, ensuring that political contributions are not made without clear authorization from the client. Directly affecting tax preparers and taxpayers, the measure aims to prevent unauthorized political donations while maintaining the current legal framework for tax preparation services.

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 5, 2026

SF 5259: Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities requirement to designate a flagship institution

This bill requires the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to select one university as the state's flagship institution by January 1, 2027. To qualify, the chosen campus must demonstrate a clear strategic plan, strong potential for economic and intellectual growth, consistent enrollment increases, and a commitment to receiving priority funding for capital projects. Once designated, the flagship university would gain the ability to request autonomy from certain system-wide rules and restrictions. The legislation directly impacts the state's higher education system by establishing specific criteria for this special status and altering how resources and authority are distributed among institutions.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 5, 2026

SF 5258: Health care access fund transfers prohibition

This bill prohibits moving money from Minnesota's Health Care Access Fund to other state funds, with very limited exceptions. It ensures that any spending from the fund must align with how the program was funded in the 1990s or be part of a specific federal health care waiver. The law also blocks transfers to other state accounts unless they go to a designated special revenue fund. These rules directly affect how the state manages and spends the money set aside for MinnesotaCare.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

Bill results