Purpose

• This bill proposes a constitutional amendment in Minnesota to allow the state to incur public debt to pay for public information technology systems licenses and infrastructure.

Main provisions and what the bill seeks to accomplish

• Adds a new purpose (item j) to the list of authorized uses for public debt in Article XI, Section 5 of the Minnesota Constitution. The new item would allow funds to be used to pay capital costs related to design, acquisition, installation, construction, equipping, and servicing of public information technology systems licenses and infrastructure.
• The amendment would still allow debt for existing purposes listed in the section, such as acquiring public land and buildings, repelling invasions, highways, airports, forestry, agriculture, and rail facilities.
• Public debt for IT would be subject to the same authorization process as other debt: it requires a law approved by a three-fifths vote of both houses of the Legislature.
• Local governments (political subdivisions) may participate in these activities and incur debt for the same purposes as permitted by law.

Significant changes to existing law

• The constitution would explicitly permit bonds and public debt to fund public information technology systems licenses and infrastructure, a new capital cost category not previously listed under the constitution’s debt authorities.
• The existing cap related to railroad bonds (par value not to exceed 200,000,000) remains in place; the bill does not change this limit.
• The bill preserves the option for political subdivisions to engage in these activities and incur debt, as authorized by law.

Submission to voters

• The proposed amendment would be submitted to Minnesota voters at the 2026 general election.
• Ballot question (paraphrased): Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to permit the state to issue bonds and incur public debt to pay for public information technology systems licenses and infrastructure?

How debt would be authorized

• For any of these purposes, debt would require the same legislative threshold: approval by three-fifths of the members of each house of the Legislature.

Practical implications (summary)

• If approved by voters, the state could issue bonds to fund IT systems licenses and infrastructure for government operations.
• This creates a formal, constitutionally recognized debt authority for IT-related investments alongside other capital projects (land, buildings, highways, airports, forest management, rail, and related improvements).

Relevant Terms - public debt, bonds, constitutional amendment, Article XI Section 5, public information technology systems, licenses, infrastructure, capital costs, design acquisition installation construction equipping servicing, three-fifths vote, general election, political subdivisions, internal improvements, governmental debt authorization