1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to infrastructure; establishing the empowering small Minnesota 
1.3 	communities program; appropriating money;proposing coding for new law in 
1.4 	Minnesota Statutes, chapter 137.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [137.345] EMPOWERING SMALL MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES 
1.7 	PROGRAM.
1.8 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have 
1.9 	the meanings given.
1.10 	(b) "Program" means the empowering small Minnesota communities program established 
1.11 	by the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota.
1.12 	(c) "Small community" means a local unit of government having a population of fewer 
1.13 	than 15,000 or a collaboration of more than one local unit of government each having a 
1.14 	population of fewer than 15,000.
1.15 		Subd. 2.Program assistance. (a) An appropriation under the program is for small 
1.16 	community partnerships on infrastructure project analysis and development as provided in 
1.17 	this section.
1.18 	(b) Support and assistance under the program must be prioritized for political subdivisions 
1.19 	and federally recognized Tribal governments based on insufficient capacity to undertake 
1.20 	project development and apply for state or federal infrastructure grants.
1.21 		Subd. 3.Uses. (a) An appropriation under the program is available for:
2.1 	(1) project partnership activities in the Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, 
2.2 	the Center for Transportation Studies, the Minnesota Design Center, the Humphrey School 
2.3 	of Public Affairs, the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs, or other related entities; and
2.4 	(2) support and assistance to small communities that includes:
2.5 	(i) methods to incorporate consideration of sustainability, resiliency, and adaptation to 
2.6 	the impacts of climate change; and
2.7 	(ii) identification and cross-sector analysis of any potential associated projects and 
2.8 	efficiencies through coordinated investments in other infrastructure or assets.
2.9 	(b) An agreement with a small community may provide for infrastructure project analysis 
2.10 	and development activities that include but are not limited to planning, scoping, analysis, 
2.11 	predesign, and design.
2.12 		Subd. 4.Program information. From an appropriation under the program, the regents 
2.13 	must maintain information about the program on a website that, at a minimum, must include:
2.14 	(1) a review of the program and implementation;
2.15 	(2) a summary of projects under the program;
2.16 	(3) financial information that identifies sources and uses of funds; and
2.17 	(4) direction on applications for partnership assistance.

2.18 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; EMPOWERING SMALL MINNESOTA 
2.19 	COMMUNITIES PROGRAM.
 2.20 	$2,500,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $2,500,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from 
2.21 	the general fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota for the empowering 
2.22 	small Minnesota communities program under Minnesota Statutes, section 137.345.