SF3792 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))
Recreational camping area owners charging fees associated with utility services usage prohibition
Related bill: HF3733
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
The bill aims to regulate how recreational camping area owners charge for electricity used by recreational camping vehicles. It requires that charges be limited to the same commodity rate the utility provider charges, and it prevents extra or hidden charges.
Main Provisions
- Adds a new subdivision (Subd.5) to Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 327.20.
- Definitions included: commodity rate (as defined in section 327C.015, subdivision 3a) and utility provider (as defined in section 327C.015, subdivision 17a).
- Restriction on charges: a recreational camping owner may charge a recreational camping vehicle only for the vehicle’s use of electricity at a rate no more than the commodity rate charged by the utility provider.
- Prohibited charges: the charge must not include administrative costs, capital costs, or any other expenses tied to distribution or use of utility services. This includes meter charges, service charges, demand charges, or taxes.
- Enforcement: any violation of this subdivision is treated as a violation of a law referred to in section 8.31, subdivision 1.
What changes in law
- Adds a clear cap on electricity charges at recreational camping areas, tying the price to the utility’s commodity rate and excluding extra fees such as meter, service, distribution, demand charges, taxes, or administrative/capital costs.
- Tightens enforcement by aligning violations with existing penalties under Minnesota law (8.31, subd. 1).
Practical effect
- Campground owners cannot bill electricity users at higher rates or tack on additional charges beyond the commodity rate charged by the utility provider.
Definitions and key terms used in this section
- recreational camping area owner
- recreational camping vehicle
- commodity rate
- utility provider
- meter charges
- service charges
- administrative costs
- capital costs
- distribution or use of utility services
- demand charges
- taxes
Relevant Terms recreational camping area owner recreational camping vehicle commodity rate utility provider meter charges service charges administrative costs capital costs distribution or use of utility services demand charges taxes Minnesota Statutes 327.20 Minnesota Statutes 327C.015 section 8.31
Bill text versions
- Introduction PDF PDF file
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 23, 2026 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| February 23, 2026 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Commerce and Consumer Protection |
Citations
[
{
"analysis": {
"added": [
"Adds Subd. 5 to § 327.20."
],
"removed": [],
"summary": "Adds Subd. 5 to Minn. Stat. § 327.20 to cap charges for electricity by recreational camping area owners at the commodity rate charged by the utility provider, and to exclude certain costs from charges.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "327.20",
"subdivision": "5"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References the existing definitions for 'commodity rate' in § 327C.015, subd. 3a, used in the bill's Subd. 5.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "327C.015",
"subdivision": "3a"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "References the existing definition for 'utility provider' in § 327C.015, subd. 17a, used in the bill's Subd. 5.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "327C.015",
"subdivision": "17a"
},
{
"analysis": {
"added": [],
"removed": [],
"summary": "States that a violation of the new Subd. 5 is treated as a violation of a law referred to in § 8.31, subd. 1.",
"modified": []
},
"citation": "8.31",
"subdivision": "1"
}
]Progress through the legislative process
In Committee