SF4856

St. Cloud Mississippi Riverwalk Connection bond issue and appropriation
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)

Related bill: HF4855

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

Approve funding and debt authority to support the St. Cloud Mississippi Riverwalk Connection project, by providing a grant to the City of St. Cloud and authorizing the sale of state bonds.

Main Provisions

Subdivision 1 — Appropriation:
- Allocates 3,150,000 from the bond proceeds fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development.
- Purpose: to grant the City of St. Cloud to design, engineer, construct, and equip the St. Cloud Mississippi Riverwalk Connection Project.
- Project components include: grading, trail and pathway construction, pedestrian crossings (if needed), lighting, landscaping, riverbank stabilization, shoreline restoration, utility work, and related public infrastructure improvements.
Subdivision 2 — Bond Sale:
- Requires the commissioner of management and budget to sell and issue up to 3,150,000 in state bonds to fund the appropriation.
- Bonds to be issued under the terms of Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 and the Minnesota Constitution, Article XI, sections 4 to 7.

Funding and Bond Issuance

Source of funds: bond proceeds fund.
Financing method: state bonds (debt financing) to be issued to provide the appropriation.

Project Scope

Project: St. Cloud Mississippi Riverwalk Connection.
Focus: creating or enhancing a riverwalk connection related to the Mississippi River in St. Cloud, with infrastructure and public improvements as described above.

Governance and Oversight

Administration: funding managed through the state’s bonding and economic development processes (DEED for the grant; Management and Budget for the bond sale).
Legal framework: uses specified Minnesota statutes and constitutional provisions governing debt issuance.

Implications and Impact

Enables a major local infrastructure project in St. Cloud through state-backed financing and grant support.
Establishes a framework for design, construction, and improvements along the riverwalk, potentially affecting local transportation, recreation, and riverfront development.

Significance for Existing Law

Creates a targeted appropriation and bond authorization for a specific project; relies on existing bond issuance statutes and constitutional authority.
No broad changes to law beyond enabling this particular capital investment and debt issuance for the St. Cloud riverwalk project.

Relevant Terms bond proceeds fund; appropriation; grant to the city of St. Cloud; St. Cloud Mississippi Riverwalk Connection Project; design; engineer; construct; equip; grading; trail; pathway construction; pedestrian crossings; lighting; landscaping; riverbank stabilization; shoreline restoration; utility work; public infrastructure improvements; commissioner of employment and economic development; commissioner of management and budget; sell and issue bonds; Minnesota Statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675; Minnesota Constitution Article XI sections 4 to 7

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
March 25, 2026	Senate		Action	Introduction and first reading
March 25, 2026	Senate		Action	Referred to	Capital Investment

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Cites Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 as the statutory authority for bond issuance and related financing for the St. Cloud Mississippi Riverwalk Connection project.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "16A.631 to 16A.675",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%

In Committee