HF1823

This bill, introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives (H.F. No. 1823) by Representative Fogelman, pertains to transportation funding. It seeks to prohibit the inclusion of highway funds for non-highway purposes in the governor's budget. Specifically, it ensures compliance with the Minnesota Constitution (Article XIV, Sections 2, 5, and 6) by barring state agency commissioners from allocating funds from the Trunk Highway Fund or the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund for non-highway-related expenditures.

Additionally, the bill mandates that, within 45 days after the governor submits the biennial budget, the Commissioner of Management and Budget and the Attorney General must produce a report for legislative transportation committees. This report must analyze proposed appropriations from the relevant highway funds, justify their highway purpose, identify any non-highway expenditures, and recommend alternative funding sources for such expenditures.

The bill defines a "non-highway purpose" as any appropriation not used for the construction, improvement, or maintenance of highways or any other prohibited use under Minnesota Statutes Section 161.045.