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HF3441

Light rail transit operating and capital maintenance costs governed.
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)

Related bill: SF3745

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

This bill adds a new rule for how the costs of operating and maintaining the Blue Line extension of the light rail transit are paid for. After using operating revenue and federal funds for operations and ongoing capital maintenance, any remaining costs must be paid by county sources.

Main Provisions

  • Defines the Blue Line extension as the portion of the Blue Line light rail from Target Field Station in Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park.
  • After operating revenue and federal funds are used for the Blue Line extension’s operations or ongoing capital maintenance costs, the council must pay all remaining costs from county sources.
  • Hennepin County must provide funding for these remaining costs from one or more of:
    • sales tax revenue as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 473.4465 subdivision 1, or
    • the county transportation sales tax under section 297A.993.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Adds a new subdivision (Subd. 3a) to Minnesota Statutes 473.4051 to specify how the Blue Line extension’s remaining operating and ongoing capital maintenance costs are funded, shifting responsibility to county sources funded by specified sales taxes.

Relevant Terms

  • Blue Line extension
  • light rail transit
  • Target Field Station
  • Brooklyn Park
  • operating revenue
  • federal funds
  • ongoing capital maintenance costs
  • council
  • Hennepin County
  • county sources
  • sales tax revenue
  • county transportation sales tax
  • Minnesota Statutes 473.4051
  • subdivision 3a

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 17, 2026HouseActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toTransportation Finance and Policy
March 25, 2026HouseActionAuthor added

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Adds Subd. 3a to Minnesota Statutes 473.4051 defining funding responsibility for Blue Line extension operating and maintenance costs."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds Subd. 3a to Minnesota Statutes 473.4051 to address light rail transit operating and capital maintenance costs for the Blue Line extension. After operating revenue and federal funds are used for these costs, the remaining costs must be paid from county sources. Hennepin County must provide for these county sources from specified county funding sources (sales tax revenue under 473.4465 Subd. 1 or the county transportation sales tax under 297A.993).",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "473.4051",
    "subdivision": "Subd. 3a"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "References Minnesota Statutes 473.4465, Subd. 1 as the source of sales tax revenue that can fund county sources for Blue Line extension costs.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "473.4465",
    "subdivision": "Subd. 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "References Minnesota Statutes 297A.993 regarding the county transportation sales tax as a funding source for Blue Line extension costs.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "297A.993",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

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