Minneslate Logo

SF3233 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Road funding alternatives task force establishment

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The proposed legislation aims to create a task force to explore new ways of funding road maintenance and infrastructure in Minnesota, focusing on alternatives to traditional fuel taxes. This initiative comes in response to the increasing adoption of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, which contribute less to fuel tax revenues.

Main Provisions

  • Task Force Creation: A road funding alternatives task force will be established. This group will investigate the impact of electric vehicles on road funding and explore alternative solutions for generating revenue.
  • Membership: The task force will have a diverse membership, including state legislators, transportation experts, public representatives, and specialists from the electric vehicle industry.
  • Duties and Goals:
    • Review existing vehicle assessments in Minnesota and their effectiveness.
    • Propose new legislation focused on sustainable transportation funding, including potential road user charges or mileage fees for electric vehicles.
    • Evaluate taxes related to electric vehicle charging, such as taxes per kilowatt hour or flat rate taxes at public charging stations.
    • Examine how other states handle electric vehicle assessments and draw insights.
    • Develop a timeline and estimate costs for implementing new funding mechanisms, aiming for commencement by 2028.
  • Meetings and Reporting:
    • The task force will meet regularly, following a schedule set by the Legislative Coordinating Commission.
    • They must comply with Minnesota's Open Meeting Law and submit a comprehensive report by March 15, 2026, detailing their findings and recommendations.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill does not directly change existing laws but seeks to reinterpret and potentially reform how Minnesota funds its transportation infrastructure in light of evolving vehicle technologies.

Relevant Terms

  • Road funding alternatives
  • Electric vehicles (EVs)
  • Plug-in hybrids
  • Fuel tax revenue
  • Task force
  • Road user charge
  • Mileage-based user fee
  • Electric vehicle charging tax
  • Sustainable transportation funding

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
April 01, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
April 01, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
April 01, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toTransportation

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Introduces the task force's role in evaluating the revenue assessment adequacy."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "The bill evaluates Minnesota's assessment of all-electric vehicles under section 168.013, subdivision 1m, to determine its adequacy as a revenue source.",
      "modified": [
        ""
      ]
    },
    "citation": "168.013",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1m"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Includes analysis of indexed adjustments for alternative road funding."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Analyzes the use of indexed adjustments similar to the Minnesota Highway Construction Cost Index used for the gasoline tax, as defined in section 296A.07, subdivision 3.",
      "modified": [
        ""
      ]
    },
    "citation": "296A.07",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Clarification of task force member compensation and reimbursement rules."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Specifies member compensation and reimbursement for expenses based on section 15.059, subdivision 3.",
      "modified": [
        ""
      ]
    },
    "citation": "15.059",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Ensures the task force adheres to open meeting laws."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "Applies the Minnesota Open Meeting Law as per chapter 13D.",
      "modified": [
        ""
      ]
    },
    "citation": "13D",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Sponsors