HF 4759

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 04/07/2026 04:25 p.m.

A bill for an act
proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, article XII, by adding
sections; prohibiting unfunded mandates by the state to local governments.

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

Section 1. new text begin CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSED.
new text end

new text begin The following amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, article XII, is proposed to the
people. If the amendment is adopted, the new sections will read as follows:
new text end

new text begin Sec. 6. new text end

new text begin Except as provided in section 7, the legislature shall pass no law and an agency
of the state shall adopt no rule that requires a local government unit to establish, expand,
modify, or administer a program, service, standard, duty, or responsibility that necessitates
an increase in expenditures by the local government unit, unless the legislature appropriates
funding to cover the entire anticipated cost of compliance based on objective evidence and
forecasting. A law or rule in violation of this section is unenforceable against a local
government unit to the extent of the unfunded cost imposed. A local government unit may
seek declaratory or injunctive relief for a violation of this section. This section must be
liberally construed to prevent the transfer of costs by the state to local government units
and to protect taxpayers from indirect taxation by the state through unfunded mandates that
necessitate an increase in property taxes.
new text end

new text begin Sec. 7. new text end

new text begin A local government unit must comply with a law or rule that meets one or more
of the following criteria, regardless of whether funding is appropriated by the legislature:
new text end

new text begin (a) a law (1) defining a criminal offense or criminal procedure, or (2) enforcing a criminal
law or criminal procedure;
new text end

new text begin (b) a law enacted during a declared emergency and adopted by the vote of at least
two-thirds of the members of each body of the legislature;
new text end

new text begin (c) a law or rule required by the federal government to be enacted by a state to comply
with federal law or to receive federal money;
new text end

new text begin (d) a law, ordinance, or regulation adopted by the local government unit and approved
by the voters; or
new text end

new text begin (e) a law or rule that has an anticipated fiscal impact on a local government unit that
does not exceed one percent of a local government unit's annual operating budget.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin SUBMISSION TO VOTERS.
new text end

new text begin (a) The proposed amendment must be submitted to the people at the 2026 general election.
The question submitted shall be:
new text end

new text begin "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to prohibit the state from imposing
requirements on local government units without appropriating money to cover the cost of
compliance, except requirements associated with criminal laws, emergencies approved by
a two-thirds vote of the legislature, compliance with federal requirements, voter-approved
local actions, and mandates with a negligible cost, effective as of January 1, 2027?
new text end

	new text begin Yes . new text end
	new text begin No . " new text end

new text begin (b) The title required under Minnesota Statutes, section 204D.15, subdivision 1, for the
question submitted to the people under paragraph (a) shall be: "State Unfunded Mandates
Prohibited."
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

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