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SF887 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority bond issue and appropriation

Related bill: HF1453

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

To provide state funding to support rehabilitation work on a segment of the Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority (MVRRA) rail line, specifically the track between Winthrop and Hanley Falls. The bill aims to advance railroad improvements by offering a grant financed with bond proceeds, and to support related environmental work and bridge/culvert replacements.

Main Provisions

  • Appropriation of 15,000,000 from the bond proceeds fund to the commissioner of transportation for a grant to the Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority.
  • The grant funds may be used for:
    • Rehabilitating the railroad track between Winthrop and Hanley Falls.
    • Environmental documentation and remediation.
    • Predesign and design work.
    • Rehabilitation or replacement of bridges or culverts along the same route.
  • A portion of the grant may be used as matching funds to meet requirements for federal grants.
  • This grant is in addition to any other grants, loans, or loan guarantees for the same project that the state may provide under existing law.

Financial Details and Bonding

  • The money comes from the bond proceeds fund.
  • The commissioner of management and budget shall sell and issue state bonds up to 15,000,000 to fund the appropriation.
  • Bond issuance must follow Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 and the Minnesota Constitution (Article XI, sections 4 to 7).

Relationship to Existing Law

  • The appropriation is in addition to prior appropriations for the project from various past laws (and is additive to similar funding streams established in earlier sessions).
  • The funding framework requires compliance with existing bond-related statutes and constitutional provisions.

Implementation and Oversight

  • The grant is administered by the commissioner of transportation and provided to the MVRRA.
  • The arrangement is designed to align with federal grant requirements and potential matching funds, ensuring coordination between state and federal funding streams.

Relevant Terms - Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority - grant - appropriation - bond proceeds fund - track rehabilitation - Winthrop - Hanley Falls - environmental documentation and remediation - predesign and design - rehabilitation or replacement of bridges or culverts - matching funds - federal grant requirements - bond sale / bonds - commissioner of transportation - commissioner of management and budget - Minnesota Statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675 - Minnesota Constitution Article XI (sections 4 to 7)

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
February 03, 2025SenateActionIntroduction and first reading
February 03, 2025SenateActionReferred toCapital Investment

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill references existing Minnesota statute provisions governing bond sales and related financing for a project (appropriation and bond sale authority).",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "Minnesota Statutes 222.46 to 222.62",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill references existing Minnesota statute provisions governing the sale and issuance of state bonds under the bond proceeds framework.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "Minnesota Statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

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