SF 4137
Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)
Posted on 03/05/2026 09:41 a.m.
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4.13
A bill for an act
relating to metropolitan government; clarifying water supply planning and reporting
requirements; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 473.1565.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 473.1565, is amended to read:
473.1565 METROPOLITAN AREA WATER SUPPLY PLANNING ACTIVITIES;
ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
Subdivision 1.
Planning activities.
(a) The Metropolitan Council must carry out planning
activities addressing the water supply needs of the metropolitan area as defined in section
473.121, subdivision 2. The planning activities must include, at a minimum:
(1) development and maintenance of a base of technical information needed for sound
water supply decisionsnew text begin ,new text end includingnew text begin but not limited tonew text end surface and groundwater availability
analyses, water demand projections, water withdrawal and use impact analyses, modeling,
and similar studies;
(2) development and periodic update of a metropolitan area deleted text begin masterdeleted text end water supply plan,
prepared in cooperation with and subject to the approval of the policy advisory committee
established in this section, that:
(i) provides guidance for local water supply systems and future regional investments;
(ii) emphasizes conservation, interjurisdictional cooperation, and long-term sustainability;
and
(iii) addresses the reliability, security, and cost-effectiveness of the metropolitan area
water supply system and its local and subregional components;
(3) recommendations for clarifying the appropriate roles and responsibilities of local,
regional, and state government in metropolitan area water supply;
(4) recommendations for streamlining and consolidating metropolitan area water supply
decision-making and approval processes; and
(5) recommendations for the ongoing and long-term funding of metropolitan area water
supply planning activities and capital investments.
(b) The council must carry out the planning activities in this subdivision in consultation
with the Metropolitan Area Water Supply Policy and Technical Advisory Committees
established in this section.
Subd. 2.
Policy advisory committee.
(a) A Metropolitan Area Water Supply Policy
Advisory Committee is established to assist the council in its planning activities in
subdivision 1. The policy advisory committee has the following membership:
(1) the commissioner of agriculture or the commissioner's designee;
(2) the commissioner of health or the commissioner's designee;
(3) the commissioner of natural resources or the commissioner's designee;
(4) the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency or the commissioner's designee;
(5) two officials of counties that are located in the metropolitan area, appointed by the
governor, in consultation with the Association of Minnesota Counties;
(6) five officials of noncounty local governmental units that are located in the
metropolitan area, appointed by the governor, in consultation with the Association of
Metropolitan Municipalities;
(7) the chair of the Metropolitan Council or the chair's designee, who is chair of the
advisory committee;
(8) one official each from the counties of Chisago, Isanti, Sherburne, and Wright,
appointed by deleted text begin the governordeleted text end new text begin and serving at the pleasure of the respective county administrator
or county managernew text end , in consultation with the Association of Minnesota Counties and the
League of Minnesota Cities; deleted text begin and
deleted text end
(9) a representative of the Saint Paul Regional Water Services, appointed by and serving
at the pleasure of the Saint Paul Regional Water Services, and a representative of the
Minneapolis Water Department, appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the mayor of
the city of Minneapolisdeleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin ; and
new text end
new text begin
(10) a Tribal representative appointed by the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council.
new text end
A local government unit in each of the seven counties in the metropolitan area and
Chisago, Isanti, Sherburne, and Wright Counties must be represented in the 11 appointments
made under clauses (5), (6), and (8).
(b) Members of the advisory committee appointed by the governor serve at the pleasure
of the governor. Members of the advisory committee serve without compensation but may
be reimbursed for their reasonable expenses as determined by the Metropolitan Council.
new text begin
(c) At the end of a four-year term, a member of the advisory committee may serve until
a successor is appointed and for as long as the member continues to be an elected public
official. Members of the advisory committee may be reappointed and serve without a term
limit.
new text end
new text begin
(d) If an appointed member of the advisory committee is no longer an elected public
official and thereby loses their qualification to serve on the committee, that member must
resign effective with the termination of their role as an elected public official.
new text end
deleted text begin (c)deleted text end new text begin (e)new text end The council must consider the work and recommendations of the policy advisory
committee when the council is preparing its regional development framework.
Subd. 2a.
Technical advisory committee.
new text begin (a) new text end A Metropolitan Area Water Supply
Technical Advisory Committee is established to inform the policy advisory committee's
work by providing scientific and engineering expertise necessary to provide the region an
adequate and sustainable water supply. The technical advisory committee consists of 15
members appointed by the policy advisory committee, with the majority of members
representing single-city and multicity public water supply systems in the metropolitan area
and including experts in:
(1) water resources analysis and modeling;
(2) hydrology; and
(3) the engineering, planning, design, and construction of water systems or water systems
finance.
new text begin (b) The technical advisory committee may include one member that is a designated
Tribal representative. new text end Members of the technical advisory committee serve at the pleasure
of the policy advisory committee, without compensation, but may be reimbursed for their
reasonable expenses as determined by the council.
Subd. 3.
Reports to legislature.
(a) The council must submit reports to the legislature
regarding its findings, recommendations, and continuing planning activities under subdivision
1. These reports shall be included in the "Minnesota Water Plan" required in section
103B.151, and five-year interim reports may be provided as necessary.
(b) By February 15, 2017, and at least every five years thereafter, the policy advisory
committee shall report to the councildeleted text begin , the Legislative Water Commission,deleted text end and the chairs
and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate committees and
divisions with jurisdiction over environment and natural resources with the information
required under this section. The policy advisory committee's report and recommendations
must include information provided by the technical advisory committee.
new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end
new text begin
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end