SF 3161

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 04/02/2025 10:06 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; modifying allocation of railroad and pipeline company
assessments for emergency preparedness activities; amending Minnesota Statutes
2024, section 299A.55, subdivisions 2, 4.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 299A.55, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Railroad and pipeline safety account.

(a) A railroad and pipeline safety
account is created in the special revenue fund. The account consists of funds collected under
subdivision 4 and funds donated, allotted, transferred, or otherwise provided to the account.

deleted text begin (b) $560,000 is annually appropriated from the railroad and pipeline safety account to
the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency for environmental protection activities
related to railroad discharge preparedness under chapter deleted text end deleted text begin 115E deleted text end deleted text begin .
deleted text end

deleted text begin (c) $750,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $1,500,000 in each subsequent fiscal year are
transferred from the railroad and pipeline safety account to the grade crossing safety account
under section 219.1651.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (d) Following the appropriation in paragraph (b) and the transfer in paragraph (c), the
remaining money in the account is annually appropriated to the commissioner of public
safety for the purposes specified in subdivision 3.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (e) deleted text end new text begin (b) new text end By January 15, 2026, the commissioner of public safety must submit a report on
the railroad and pipeline safety account to the chairs and ranking minority members of the
legislative committees with jurisdiction over transportation policy and finance. The report
must list detailed revenues to and expenditures from the account for the previous two fiscal
years and must include information on the purpose of each expenditure.

deleted text begin (f) deleted text end new text begin (c) new text end If the balance of the account at the end of a fiscal biennium is greater than
$2,000,000, the amount above $2,000,000 must be transferred to the grade crossing safety
account under section 219.1651.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 299A.55, subdivision 4, is amended to read:

Subd. 4.

Assessments.

(a) The commissioner of public safety must annually assess
deleted text begin $4,000,000 deleted text end new text begin $3,418,000 new text end to railroad deleted text begin and pipeline deleted text end companies deleted text begin based on the formula specified
in paragraph (b). The commissioner must deposit funds collected under this subdivision in
the railroad and pipeline safety account under subdivision 2.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (b) The assessment for each railroad is 70 percent of the total annual assessment amount deleted text end ,
divided in equal proportion deleted text begin between deleted text end new text begin among new text end applicable rail carriers based on route miles
operated in Minnesota. deleted text begin The assessment for each pipeline company is 30 percent of the total
annual assessment amount deleted text end new text begin Of the amount collected annually under this paragraph:
new text end

new text begin (1) $560,000 is deposited in the railroad and pipeline safety account and appropriated
to the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency for environmental protection activities
related to railroad discharge preparedness under chapter 115E;
new text end

new text begin (2) $1,500,000 is deposited in the grade crossing safety account under section 219.1651;
and
new text end

new text begin (3) the remainder is deposited in the railroad and pipeline safety account and appropriated
to the commissioner of public safety for the purposes specified in subdivision 3.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of public safety must annually assess $582,000 to pipeline
companies new text end , divided in equal proportion deleted text begin between deleted text end new text begin among new text end companies based on the yearly
aggregate gallons of oil and other hazardous substances transported by pipeline in Minnesota. new text begin
Money collected under this paragraph is deposited in the railroad and pipeline safety account
and appropriated to the commissioner of public safety for the purposes specified in
subdivision 3.
new text end

(c) In addition to the deleted text begin amount deleted text end new text begin amounts new text end identified in deleted text begin paragraph deleted text end new text begin paragraphs new text end (a) new text begin and (b) new text end ,
the commissioner must assess the rail carrier or pipeline company involved in an incident
compelling a significant response for all postincident review and analysis costs under
subdivision 5 incurred by the state and local units of government. This paragraph applies
regardless of whether an assessment is imposed under paragraph (a) new text begin or (b) new text end in a fiscal year.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end