HF2438 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Transportation budget bill; Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, and Metropolitan Council activities funding provided; and money appropriated.

Related bill: SF2082

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The bill establishes a budget for transportation in Minnesota, allocating funds to various transportation-related departments and activities for fiscal years 2026 and 2027. It is intended to support improvements and operations within the Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, and the Metropolitan Council.

Main Provisions

  • Transportation Funding: Appropriates significant funds from different sources such as the trunk highway fund, municipal state-aid street fund, and highway user tax distribution fund to various transportation projects and activities.
  • Airport Development and Assistance: Provides allocations from the state airports fund for airport development projects, allowing for reallocation if budgeted amounts are insufficient.
  • Transit and Active Transportation: Allocates funds from the general fund to support transit projects and promote active transportation like biking or walking infrastructure.
  • State Road and Bridge Funding: Includes funding for the construction, maintenance, and improvement of trunk highways, including a notable project for the John A. Blatnik Bridge, with provisions for federal aid involvement.
  • Local Road Assistance: Allocates funds for county state-aid highways and municipal state-aid streets, with contingency appropriations if initial budgets fall short.
  • Department of Public Safety: Designates funding primarily for the State Patrol, vehicle services, and traffic safety programs. Also includes finance for new facilities for the State Patrol’s headquarters.
  • Metropolitan Council: The bill provides finances for special transportation services like Metro Mobility.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Amendments to Minnesota Statutes: Changes are made across various sections to align with new appropriations, including modifications for emergency funding and the handling of federal aid projects.
  • Contingency Allocations: New provisions allow for flexible budgeting in response to unanticipated needs or federal funds availability, giving authorities more power to reallocate funds as necessary.

Relevant Terms

trunk highway fund, state aid highways, Metropolitan Council, special transportation service, State Patrol, federal highway aid, airport development, active transportation, John A. Blatnik Bridge, corridors of commerce, highway debt service, local road assistance, driver services, vehicle services, traffic safety, pipeline safety.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 16, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toTransportation Finance and Policy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "No specific additions were listed for this section in the text provided."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No specific removals were listed for this section in the text provided."
      ],
      "summary": "This bill makes amendments to section 168.27 involving various subdivisions concerning vehicle registration.",
      "modified": [
        "Subdivisions 8, 11, and 16 of section 168.27 are to be amended as part of the transportation budget adjustments."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "168.27"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Payments included for deputy registrars."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No specific removals listed."
      ],
      "summary": "Amendments are made to section 168.33 regarding vehicle services operations payments.",
      "modified": [
        "Subdivision 7 of section 168.33 mentions payments to deputy registrars."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "168.33"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "A subdivision is added; however, details of the addition aren’t specified."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No specific removals listed."
      ],
      "summary": "This bill includes modifications to driver's license provisions under section 171.05.",
      "modified": [
        "Specific modifications to subdivision 1 are not detailed in the text."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "171.05"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "New provisions in subdivision 4 for driver's license agent payments."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No specifics on removals."
      ],
      "summary": "Section 171.06 is amended concerning drivers license agent payments.",
      "modified": [
        "Addition to subdivision 4 acknowledges payments to drivers license agents."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "171.06"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Details are in a newly added subdivision in section 171.061."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No specifics on removals."
      ],
      "summary": "Amendments impacting the driver's license issuance and related programs.",
      "modified": [
        "Additional subdivision relates to license agent functions."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "171.061"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Funds allocated for rulemaking and implementation regarding ignition interlock program."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No specific removals noted for this section."
      ],
      "summary": "Changes related to the ignition interlock program under section 171.306.",
      "modified": [
        "Subdivision 8 influenced by fund allocations in fiscal year budget."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "171.306"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Subdivisions add funding contingencies for airports development."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No specific elements of the provision removed."
      ],
      "summary": "Funding rules for the state airports fund via section 360.305 are provided.",
      "modified": [
        "The terms around subdivisions concerning airport developmental funds are detailed."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "360.305"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Subdivision added for securing operational budget systems."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No specific elements were removed from this section."
      ],
      "summary": "This legislation touches on provisions within section 299A.01 regarding appropriation directives.",
      "modified": [
        "New modifications are likely via additional budget rules."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "299A.01"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Specific funding allocations are now accounted for under this section for the program."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No details on specific removals for this section."
      ],
      "summary": "Modifications relate to the Corridors of Commerce program.",
      "modified": [
        "Substantial allocation and funds handling for subsection under Corridors of Commerce."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "161.088"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Fundamental specifics involve funding motions under advisory initiatives."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No specific removals were listed."
      ],
      "summary": "The advisory council's activities are funded under the operations for traffic safety projects.",
      "modified": [
        "Subtle financial adjustments for operation funds within said section."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "4.076"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Amendments bring incremental changes over the commissioner’s responsibility within rail safety."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No elements distinctly removed."
      ],
      "summary": "The provision involves safety regulations amended in line with rail safety inspection standards.",
      "modified": [
        "The most recent rail safety standard assessments saw financial stipulations added."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "219.015"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Specialized narcotic training funding adjustments, potentially tied to new training mandates."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "No specific details on removals presented in the bill."
      ],
      "summary": "Section 626.84 received amendments as part of the adjustments for drug evaluation training purposes.",
      "modified": [
        "Educational modifications for enforcement officers indicated."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "626.84"
  }
]