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SF3745 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Govern certain light rail transit operating and capital maintenance costs

Related bill: HF3441

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

This bill sets how the Blue Line light rail extension’s remaining operating and maintenance costs will be funded. It defines the Blue Line extension and assigns funding responsibilities after all other available funds are used.

Key definitions

  • Blue Line extension: the portion of the Blue Line light rail from Target Field Station in Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park (also called the Blue Line light rail extension project).

Main provisions

  • After operating revenue and federal funds are used for operations or ongoing capital maintenance costs attributable to the Blue Line extension, the council must pay all remaining costs from county sources.
  • Hennepin County must provide for these county-source costs using one or more of:
    • sales tax revenue as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 473.4465, subdivision 1, or
    • the county transportation sales tax under section 297A.993.

Relationship to existing law

  • The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 473.4051 by adding a new subdivision (Subd. 3a) to establish these funding requirements.

Impact and timing

  • The funding sequence is: first use operating revenue and federal funds for the Blue Line extension’s operations and ongoing maintenance costs, then cover any remaining costs with county sources (via specified sales taxes). This sets who pays what and when, shifting residual costs to county funding mechanisms.

Significant changes to law

  • Introduces Subdivision 3a to section 473.4051, explicitly detailing the funding responsibility for the Blue Line extension’s remaining operating and capital maintenance costs and the permissible county funding sources.

Relevant Terms Blue Line extension Blue Line light rail Target Field Station Brooklyn Park operating revenue federal funds ongoing capital maintenance costs council county sources sales tax revenue section 473.4465 subdivision 1 county transportation sales tax section 297A.993 Hennepin County Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 473.4051 Subd. 3a

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 23, 2026SenateActionIntroduction and first reading
February 23, 2026SenateActionReferred toTransportation

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Subd. 3a: Light rail transit certain operating and capital maintenance costs, including the Blue Line extension definition."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Adds Subd. 3a to Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 473.4051 to address light rail transit operating and capital maintenance costs for the Blue Line extension, establishing funding responsibilities after operating revenue and federal funds are applied.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "473.4051",
    "subdivision": "Subd. 3a"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "References the definition of sales tax revenue in section 473.4465 subdivision 1 for funding of Blue Line extension costs; no changes to this statute are enacted in this bill.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "473.4465",
    "subdivision": "Subd. 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "References the county transportation sales tax under section 297A.993 as a funding source for county sources supporting Blue Line extension costs; no changes to this statute are enacted in this bill.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "297A.993",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

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