HF4669

Purpose

This bill aims to limit how counties in Minnesota must follow state mandates by requiring funding before a county is required to comply. In short, counties would not have to implement a state mandate unless the state provides the necessary revenue to pay for it.

Main Provisions

• Establishes a new rule called "No Mandates Without Funding" (Minnesota Statutes chapters 373 and 471 referenced in the bill).
• Section 373.52:
  • Subsection (a): A county is not required to comply with a state mandate described in the following subsection until a state law provides the county with the revenue needed to pay for that mandate.
  • Subsection (b): A state mandate that a county is not required to comply with under subsection (a) is a mandate that must meet at least one of these criteria:
  • (1) affects the daily operation of a county government,
  • (2) changes the allocation of a county’s resources, or
  • (3) changes a county’s spending priorities.

How it Changes Current Law

• Creates a funding prerequisite for state mandates placed on counties. Under this bill, mandates that would otherwise require county action are not enforceable until the state provides adequate funds to cover the costs.
• Adds specific criteria to define what counts as a state mandate for this funding requirement.

Implications and Considerations

• Potentially reduces the financial burden on counties by blocking unfunded mandates.
• Shifts more budgeting responsibility to the state, as mandates must be funded before counties must comply.
• Could affect how quickly the state can implement new requirements on counties, depending on whether funding is appropriated.

Terminology and Key Phrases (from the bill)

• No Mandates Without Funding
• state mandate
• county (county government)
• daily operation of a county government
• allocation of a county’s resources
• spending priorities
• revenue / funding
• Minnesota Statutes chapters 373 and 471

Relevant Terms

• No Mandates Without Funding
• state mandate
• county government
• daily operation
• allocation of resources
• spending priorities
• revenue
• funding
• Minnesota Statutes chapters 373 and 471
• local government