HF5036

Purpose

• Provide a one-time financial appropriation to support improvements at Duluth International Airport.
• Specifically, to fund a project for a new air traffic control tower and related facilities.

Main Provisions

• Funds and timing: $4,000,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the state airports fund.
• Recipient and process: A grant from the Commissioner of Transportation to the Duluth Airport Authority to manage the project.
• Project scope: Design, construct, furnish, and equip a new air traffic control tower and a base building, including associated offices, workspaces, equipment rooms, and logistic support spaces.
• Site and support work: Site preparation including demolition of obsolete buildings, construction and installation of utilities, a stormwater retention system, and replacement of an existing fuel tank.
• Federal funding match: A portion of the appropriation must be used as a match to federal funding for the project.
• Restrictions on uses of the funds: The commissioner must not use any amount of this appropriation for administrative costs, despite other rules about administrative spending.
• Relationship to prior funding: This is in addition to a separate appropriation from Laws 2025 First Special Session (chapter 8, article 1, section 2, subdivision 2, paragraph a, clause 1).
• Status and duration: This is a one-time appropriation and remains available through June 30, 2028.

Significance / What this means

• Improves airport capacity and safety by adding a new air traffic control tower and related facilities.
• Encourages leveraging federal funds through a required match.
• Keeps the funds dedicated to the project itself (no administrative costs) and provides a clear deadline for use.

Changes to Existing Law (notable legal effect)

• Introduces a specific prohibition on using this appropriation for administrative costs, via a not-withstanding clause, indicating funds must go toward the project itself rather than admin expenses.
• Adds an additional, separate funding allocation for Duluth International Airport beyond previously approved appropriations.

Relevant terms - appropriation - state airports fund - Duluth International Airport - Duluth Airport Authority - air traffic control tower - base building - grant - design - construction - furnish - equip - offices - utilities - stormwater retention system - fuel tank replacement - site preparation - demolition - federal funding match - administrative costs - Minnesota Statutes 16B.98 subdivision 14 - one-time appropriation - fiscal year 2027 - June 30, 2028 - commissioner of transportation - Laws 2025 First Special Session chapter 8 article 1 section 2 subdivision 2 paragraph a clause 1 - Transportation Finance and Policy (committee)