Measure would fund Minnesota roads and change transportation rules

The commissioner would set up financial help for businesses hurt by certain transportation construction projects. The program covers businesses and nonprofits affected by certain state highways, local aid roads, or transitway construction. A business must have its access or main sign impaired by a covered project for at least 60 days to meet the stated definition of extensive impacts. The commissioner must set eligibility and payment rules; payments should be made before or during the impact period when practicable. This applies to covered projects whose construction first starts on or after October 1, 2025.

The commissioner would need to use broader project planning and review for specified trunk highway projects. These requirements apply to trunk highway projects being considered for the state highway investment program. The rules cover projects involving construction, reconstruction, bridge replacement, changes to highway capacity, access changes, or permanent right-of-way purchases, and projects requiring an environmental impact statement. Routine road work such as resurfacing and preventive maintenance is excluded unless it involves one of the listed project types. The scoping requirements apply to projects scoped on or after July 1, 2025. The other planning requirements apply to projects on or after March 1, 2027.

The measure would direct transportation funding to state agencies, transit, local roads, and named projects. The listed funding goes to the transportation and public safety departments, the Metropolitan Council, and named local projects. Some amounts depend on available balances or federal matching funds; each appropriation's stated purpose and conditions apply. The listed appropriations are for fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027; some project money remains available beyond those dates.

The measure would set registration surcharges for certain electric vehicles and limit when police may cite pedestrians for specified crossing violations. The provisions cover owners of specified electric vehicles and motorcycles, pedestrians, and police officers. The surcharges apply to all-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and specified electric motorcycles; annual adjustments depend on changes in the gasoline tax rate. Police generally could not stop, detain, or cite pedestrians for the listed crossing violations unless addressing another violation or a vehicle presents a collision hazard. The surcharges apply to registrations on or after August 1, 2025. The pedestrian citation limits apply to violations on or after that date.