Minnesota Bills

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 16, 2026

HF 4960: Duration for landlord's duty to furnish heat increased.

This bill extends the required heating period for landlords in Minnesota from October 1 to September 1, ensuring tenants have access to heat at a minimum of 68 degrees Fahrenheit until May 31. The change applies to all residential leases and licenses, requiring landlords to maintain this temperature in living areas, kitchens, and bathrooms unless a utility company mandates a reduction. Landlords cannot waive this obligation through their lease agreements, and the provision remains subject to utility company instructions regarding heat reduction.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 16, 2026

HF 4882: Judiciary and public safety; theft of public funds, school safety, and emergency vehicles policy provided; first degree murder and impersonating a peace officer criminal provisions modified; firearms policies established; criminal penalties imposed; and money appropriated.

This bill appropriates state funds to enhance security for the judiciary and public safety agencies, including specific allocations for protecting the Chief Justice and staffing security units. It establishes a competitive grant program to help courthouses improve their physical safety and security measures, requiring recipients to contribute half of the project costs. Additionally, the legislation modifies existing criminal laws regarding first-degree murder and impersonating a peace officer while creating new offenses related to theft of public funds and misuse of emergency vehicles. The bill also updates firearms policies and authorizes the relevant agencies to create rules to implement these changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 16, 2026

HF 4996: Ham Lake; marked Trunk Highway 65 and Bunker Lake Boulevard Northeast interchange improvements funding provided, and money appropriated.

This bill allocates $16.5 million from the trunk highway fund to improve the intersection of Trunk Highway 65 and Bunker Lake Boulevard Northeast in Ham Lake. The funding covers various stages of the project, including preliminary engineering, environmental studies, final design, land acquisition, and construction of the road improvements. These changes are intended to enhance traffic flow and safety at this specific interchange within Anoka County and the City of Ham Lake. The money is designated as a one-time appropriation available for use until June 30, 2031.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 16, 2026

HF 4984: Academic growth reporting requirements for state assessments modified.

This bill updates Minnesota's education laws to require more detailed reporting on student reading progress and modifies how state assessments are structured. It directly affects school districts, students in kindergarten through grade 12, and their families by mandating specific screening and data collection practices. Under the new rules, schools must screen all young students three times a year for foundational reading skills and dyslexia characteristics, while also tracking growth data for older students who are not reading at grade level. Additionally, the bill requires districts to include specific literacy data in their annual plans and adjusts state testing requirements to include multiple-choice questions for subjects other than writing. These changes aim to provide clearer information on individual student performance and academic growth across the state.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 16, 2026

HF 4928: Lower Sioux Indian Community grant funding provided for renewable energy, reports required, and money appropriated.

This bill allocates $15 million in state funding to the Lower Sioux Indian Community to help plan, develop, and build renewable energy projects such as solar facilities, battery storage, and microgrids. The money comes from the state's renewable development account and is managed by the commissioner of commerce, who must sign a grant contract with the community to oversee the work. To ensure accountability, the community is required to submit a detailed project plan and regular progress reports to state officials and legislative committees throughout the project's lifecycle. Any funds that are not spent by the end of the project will return to the state's renewable development account. The legislation takes effect immediately upon final passage by the legislature.

Topics ✓ Energy

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 16, 2026

HF 4906: Onetime special property tax refund provided, and money appropriated.

This bill establishes a one-time special property tax refund for Minnesota property owners who paid taxes in 2026. It directly affects owners of specific property types, including residential homes, apartments, farms, and forests, by allowing them to apply for a share of a $4 billion fund. To receive money, owners must submit an application to the Department of Revenue between July 15 and September 15, 2026, and the refunds will be distributed by December 31, 2026. The legislation appropriates $4 billion from the state's general fund to finance these payments, with each eligible owner receiving a portion based on their individual tax contribution relative to the total taxes paid by all applicants.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 16, 2026

HF 4989: Materials used in covered projects required to be manufactured in the United States, and waivers provided.

This bill requires that cement, concrete, and steel used in state-funded infrastructure, transportation, housing, school, and public facility projects be manufactured in the United States. The law defines "made in the United States" as materials where foreign-produced components account for less than five percent of the total cost. State agencies can grant waivers if such materials are unavailable, would increase project costs by more than 25 percent, or if an emergency demands immediate procurement. Additionally, the bill instructs the commissioner to provide guidance to procurement staff and update policies to offer a bid preference for projects committing to using products made within the state.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SF 5161: PROMISE grant program prior appropriation termination

This bill terminates the prior appropriation funding for the PROMISE grant program in Minnesota. It directly affects the state's budget for economic development by removing a specific funding line item. The legislation amends existing laws to adjust financial allocations for various business and community development initiatives, such as grants for small business centers and contaminated site cleanup. By ending the previous funding method, the bill shifts how these programs receive financial support, though it does not eliminate the programs themselves.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SF 5171: Cuyuna Lakes State Trail segment bond issue and appropriation

This bill authorizes the issuance of up to $2 million in state bonds to fund a new segment of the Cuyuna Lakes State Trail in Brainerd. The appropriated funds will be used by the commissioner of natural resources to design and construct a multiuse paved trail connecting the existing path at the Northern Pacific Center to 28th Street Southeast. This project aims to link current trail networks and improve accessibility for various users while increasing multimodal transportation options. The legislation becomes effective immediately upon final enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SF 5165: Brainerd energy efficiency projects bond issue and appropriation

This bill authorizes the state to issue up to $7.5 million in bonds to fund energy efficiency improvements for Brainerd Public Utilities. The appropriated funds can be used for capital upgrades such as replacing or upgrading existing turbine generators and modifying building structures to support new equipment. The legislation directs the commissioner of commerce to provide these grants directly to the utility company, while the commissioner of management and budget handles the bond sale process. It takes effect immediately upon final passage by the legislature.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy

in committee · Minnesota · House Apr 16, 2026

HF 5006: Peace officer required to conduct testing of a person suspected of carrying a firearm while under the influence, penalty for carrying a firearm with an elevated blood alcohol concentration increased, and length of time a person is prohibited from carrying a firearm after conviction increased.

This bill requires peace officers in Minnesota to mandate breath tests for individuals suspected of carrying a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It increases penalties for this offense, elevating repeat violations from misdemeanors to felonies and raising the punishment for carrying a firearm with an elevated blood alcohol concentration from a misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor. Additionally, the law extends the period during which convicted individuals are banned from carrying firearms, ranging from one year to a lifetime depending on the number of prior convictions. The legislation also clarifies that firearms involved in these violations will generally not be confiscated unless the offense is a second or subsequent one.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · Minnesota · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SF 5159: Forest Lake Veterans Memorial prior appropriation of bond proceeds modification

This bill modifies an existing appropriation of $250,000 in bond proceeds to provide a grant to the Forest Lake Veterans Memorial Committee. The funds are designated for constructing a memorial honoring veterans of the United States armed forces at Lakeside Memorial Park. By amending the state's capital investment laws, the legislation ensures the financial allocation remains active for this specific project. The changes take effect immediately upon the bill's final enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Veterans

Bill results