1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to state government; prohibiting certain work by legislative members; 
1.3 	changing provisions for business filings, energy and water use in state facilities, 
1.4 	enterprise sustainability, grant management, fraud training, pharmacy benefit 
1.5 	manager selection, historic site management, lien notice, public television block 
1.6 	grant eligibility, and attorney general civil actions; modifying provisions for local 
1.7 	government elections, organization, investments, personnel structure, financing 
1.8 	of public projects, and nondisclosure agreements; dedicating Snow Professionals 
1.9 	Appreciation Month and Hmong American Heritage Week; designating the state 
1.10 	sled; extending the Legislative Commission on Cybersecurity; requiring payment 
1.11 	transparency; defining terms; providing immunity for racing facilities;amending 
1.12 	Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 3.084, subdivision 2; 3.888, subdivision 7; 5.02; 
1.13 	5.08; 5.23, subdivision 1; 15.72, by adding a subdivision; 16B.32, subdivisions 1, 
1.14 	2, by adding subdivisions; 16B.372, subdivision 1; 16B.97, subdivisions 4, 5; 
1.15 	16B.98, subdivision 11; 16B.991, subdivision 1; 43A.231, subdivision 5; 118A.09, 
1.16 	subdivisions 2, 4, by adding a subdivision; 129D.13, subdivision 1; 138.669; 
1.17 	268.058, subdivision 1; 365.05; 365.50, subdivisions 1, 2; 367.03, subdivision 2; 
1.18 	367.12; 367.161; 379.01, subdivision 3; 383A.281, subdivision 13; 383A.283, 
1.19 	subdivisions 2, 3; 383A.284, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; 383A.285, subdivisions 2, 
1.20 	3, 4, 5, 10; 383A.286, subdivisions 2, 3; 383A.288, subdivisions 5, 6; 383A.289, 
1.21 	subdivisions 1, 3; 383A.291, subdivision 1a; 383A.292, subdivisions 1, 2; 
1.22 	383A.294, subdivision 6; 383A.295, subdivisions 1, 2; 429.011, subdivision 2a; 
1.23 	429.021, subdivision 1; 444.075, subdivision 1; Minnesota Statutes 2025 
1.24 	Supplement, sections 13.43, subdivision 2; 15A.082, subdivision 3; proposing 
1.25 	coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 1; 10; 15; 43A; 358; 462; 471; 
1.26 	561; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 383A.298; 383A.301; 462.357, 
1.27 	subdivision 5.
1.28 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.29 	ARTICLE 1
1.30 	STATE GOVERNMENT

1.31 	Section 1. [1.1494] STATE SLED.
1.32 	The toboggan is the official sled of the state of Minnesota.

2.1 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 3.084, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
2.2 		Subd. 2.Prohibition. (a) A sitting member of the legislature is prohibited from accepting 
2.3 	employment with or otherwise receiving compensation for services performed from:
2.4 	(1) a business whose primary source of revenue is derived from lobbying, government 
2.5 	relations or government affairs services;
2.6 	(2) a business whose primary source of revenue is derived from facilitating government 
2.7 	relations or government affairs services between two third parties; or
2.8 	(3) any other business or public employer that employs or contracts with lobbyists, 
2.9 	government relations or government affairs professionals, if the member's job duties include 
2.10 	acting in that capacity or:
2.11 	(i) direct lobbying;
2.12 	(ii) government relations or government affairs while the legislature is in session; or
2.13 	(iii) providing direct or indirect consulting, or advice, or administrative support for that 
2.14 	work that helps the business or public employer deliver lobbying, government relations, or 
2.15 	government affairs services to clients.
2.16 	(b) This prohibition applies regardless of the location where the work of the business is 
2.17 	substantially conducted or its clients are located.
2.18 	(c) The house of representatives and the senate must adopt rules to enforce this section.
2.19 	(d) For purposes of this section, "business" means any corporation, partnership, 
2.20 	proprietorship, firm, enterprise, franchise, association, organization, self-employed individual, 
2.21 	or any other legal entity which engages in either nonprofit or profit making activities.
2.22 	(e) For purposes of this section, "public employer" means a department, agency, or office 
2.23 	of a federal government, state government, or territory of the United States; the state or 
2.24 	federal judiciary; the United States Congress; a legislature of a state or territory; a local 
2.25 	government or political subdivision of any state or territory of the United States; or any 
2.26 	other public body.

2.27 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective January 1, 2027.

2.28 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 3.888, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
2.29 		Subd. 7.Expiration. The commission expires December 31, 2028 2035.

3.1 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 5.02, is amended to read:
3.2 	5.02 ASSISTANTS.
3.3 	The secretary of state shall appoint an assistant a deputy secretary of state, who shall 
3.4 	perform all the duties of the office when the secretary is absent or disabled. The secretary 
3.5 	may also employ a chief clerk, a recording clerk, and a stenographer, and at pleasure dismiss 
3.6 	two additional deputies and an executive assistant who, besides the duties indicated by their 
3.7 	titles, shall perform such services in connection with the office as the secretary or the assistant 
3.8 	may require. This section does not increase the complement of the secretary of state.

3.9 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 5.08, is amended to read:
3.10 	5.08 LEGISLATIVE MANUAL.
3.11 		Subdivision 1.Preparation. The secretary of state shall prepare, compile, edit, and 
3.12 	distribute for use at each regular legislative session, a convenient manual, properly indexed, 
3.13 	and containing: The federal and state constitutions; the acts of Congress relating to the 
3.14 	organization of the territory and state; the rules of order and joint rules of the two houses, 
3.15 	and lists of their members, committees and employees; the names of all state officials, 
3.16 	whether elected or appointed, and of all persons holding office from this state under the 
3.17 	national government; the places municipalities where the said several officials reside, and 
3.18 	the annual compensation of each; and statistical and other information of the kind heretofore 
3.19 	published in the legislative manuals.
3.20 		Subd. 2.Distribution. 10,000 5,000 copies of the legislative manual shall be printed 
3.21 	and distributed as follows:
3.22 	(1) up to 20 5 copies shall be available to each member of the legislature on request;
3.23 	(2) 50 12 copies to the State Historical Society;
3.24 	(3) 25 2 copies to the state university;
3.25 	(4) 60 30 copies to the state library;
3.26 	(5) two copies one copy each to the Library of Congress, the Minnesota veterans homes, 
3.27 	the universities, the high schools, academies, seminaries, and colleges of the state, and the 
3.28 	public libraries of the state;
3.29 	(6) one copy each to other state institutions, the elective state officials, the appointed 
3.30 	heads of departments, the officers and employees of the legislature, the justices of the 
3.31 	supreme court, the judges of the court of appeals and the district court, the senators and 
4.1 	representatives in Congress from this state, and the county auditors, recorders, and attorneys;
4.2 	and
4.3 	(7) one copy to each school, to be distributed through the superintendent of each school 
4.4 	district; and
4.5 	(8) the remainder may be disposed of as the secretary of state deems best.

4.6 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 5.23, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
4.7 		Subdivision 1.Failure to pay filing fee. (a) If a person files an instrument authorized 
4.8 	to be filed with the secretary of state with a payment order or item that is rejected or 
4.9 	dishonored, the secretary of state is may take the actions authorized under this subdivision.
4.10 	(b) The secretary of state is authorized to refuse the filing of further instruments submitted 
4.11 	by that person or on behalf of the business entity or notary on whose behalf the prior 
4.12 	instrument was filed or relating to the same assumed name or trademark filing.
4.13 	(c) If a person makes a filing related to a business entity with a payment order or item 
4.14 	that is rejected or dishonored, the secretary of state is authorized to terminate the business 
4.15 	entity and change the business entity's filing status to inactive.
4.16 	(d) The secretary may also pursue collection of the rejected or dishonored payment order 
4.17 	or item and recover the face amount of the payment order or item, any service fee, and any 
4.18 	additional collection costs incurred to collect the amount. If the payment order or item is 
4.19 	honored, or the delinquent amount is paid, the secretary of state must resume filing 
4.20 	instruments submitted by that person or on behalf of that business entity or notary or relating 
4.21 	to the same assumed name or trademark filing as of the date the payment order or item is 
4.22 	honored and an instrument is presented for filing.
4.23 	(e) The secretary may impose restrictions on the manner of payment that will be accepted 
4.24 	for any future filings.
4.25 	(f) This subdivision does not apply to financing statements filed under chapter 336 or 
4.26 	to an effective financing statement or lien notice filed under chapter 336A.

4.27 	Sec. 7. [10.52] SNOW PROFESSIONALS APPRECIATION MONTH.
4.28 	The month of January of each year is designated as Snow Professionals Appreciation 
4.29 	Month in recognition of the state's desire to honor, recognize, and celebrate the contributions 
4.30 	of snow professionals. Minnesota has thousands of snow professionals who work tirelessly 
4.31 	in winter months to clear snow; keep streets, sidewalks, and recreational paths safe; plow 
5.1 	thousands of miles of roads; and manage ice with salt and sand application. Snow 
5.2 	professionals monitor winter weather and track storms to dispatch appropriate snow removal 
5.3 	crews and equipment. Professional snow services range from small residential shoveling 
5.4 	services to large commercial plowing and deicing for businesses. Snow removal services 
5.5 	represent a significant part of Minnesota's winter economy. The state declares that in order 
5.6 	to educate the public, the governor may promote and encourage the observance of Snow 
5.7 	Professionals Appreciation Month.

5.8 	Sec. 8. [10.5801] HMONG AMERICAN HERITAGE WEEK.
5.9 	(a) May 14 to May 23 each year is an official week of observance to commemorate the 
5.10 	state's valued Hmong American heritage. During the week of observance, all residents of 
5.11 	the state are urged to:
5.12 	(1) recognize and honor the history, culture, traditions, and heritage of the Hmong people; 
5.13 	and
5.14 	(2) acknowledge the contributions of Hmong people to Minnesota.
5.15 	(b) Hmong American Heritage Week honors:
5.16 	(1) the history, heritage, and resilience of the Hmong people, including their longstanding 
5.17 	cultural traditions, their service and sacrifice alongside the United States during the Secret 
5.18 	War in Laos, and their journey as refugees to the United States and Minnesota; and
5.19 	(2) the significant contributions of Hmong Minnesotans in public service, 
5.20 	entrepreneurship, agriculture, education, the arts, and community life and in enriching the 
5.21 	cultural, civic, and economic fabric of the state.
5.22 	(c) The governor is encouraged to issue a proclamation recognizing Hmong American 
5.23 	Heritage Week and encouraging Minnesotans to observe Hmong American Heritage Week 
5.24 	through programs, ceremonies, educational activities, and community events honoring the 
5.25 	history, culture, traditions, and heritage of the Hmong people.
5.26 	(d) Schools, libraries, historical societies, cultural institutions, nonprofit organizations, 
5.27 	community groups, local governments, and residents are encouraged to organize and lead 
5.28 	programs, ceremonies, educational initiatives, and community events that highlight the 
5.29 	history, culture, traditions, resilience, and contributions of the Hmong people.

6.1 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 13.43, subdivision 2, is amended to 
6.2 	read:
6.3 		Subd. 2.Public data. (a) Except for employees described in subdivision 5 and subject 
6.4 	to the limitations described in subdivision 5a, the following personnel data on current and 
6.5 	former employees, volunteers, and independent contractors of a government entity is public:
6.6 	(1) name; employee identification number, which must not be the employee's Social 
6.7 	Security number; actual gross salary; salary range; terms and conditions of employment 
6.8 	relationship; contract fees; actual gross pension; the value and nature of employer paid 
6.9 	fringe benefits; and the basis for and the amount of any added remuneration, including 
6.10 	expense reimbursement, in addition to salary;
6.11 	(2) job title and bargaining unit; job description; education and training background; 
6.12 	and previous work experience;
6.13 	(3) date of first and last employment;
6.14 	(4) the existence and status of any complaints or charges against the employee, regardless 
6.15 	of whether the complaint or charge resulted in a disciplinary action;
6.16 	(5) the final disposition of any disciplinary action together with the specific reasons for 
6.17 	the action and data documenting the basis of the action, excluding data that would identify 
6.18 	confidential sources who are employees of the public body;
6.19 	(6) the complete terms of any agreement settling any dispute arising out of an employment 
6.20 	relationship, including a buyout agreement as defined in section 123B.143, subdivision 2, 
6.21 	paragraph (a); except that the agreement must include specific reasons for the agreement if 
6.22 	it involves the payment of more than $10,000 of public money;
6.23 	(7) work location; a work telephone number; badge number; work-related continuing 
6.24 	education; and honors and awards received; and
6.25 	(8) payroll time sheets or other comparable data that are only used to account for 
6.26 	employee's work time for payroll purposes, except to the extent that release of time sheet 
6.27 	data would reveal the employee's reasons for the use of sick or other medical leave or other 
6.28 	not public data.
6.29 	(b) For purposes of this subdivision, a final disposition occurs when the government 
6.30 	entity makes its final decision about the disciplinary action, regardless of the possibility of 
6.31 	any later proceedings or court proceedings. Final disposition includes a resignation by an 
6.32 	individual when the resignation occurs after the final decision of the government entity, or 
6.33 	arbitrator. In the case of arbitration proceedings arising under collective bargaining 
7.1 	agreements, a final disposition occurs at the conclusion of the arbitration proceedings, or 
7.2 	upon the failure of the employee to elect arbitration within the time provided by the collective 
7.3 	bargaining agreement. A disciplinary action does not become public data if an arbitrator 
7.4 	sustains a grievance and reverses all aspects of any disciplinary action.
7.5 	(c) The government entity may display a photograph of a current or former employee 
7.6 	to a prospective witness as part of the government entity's investigation of any complaint 
7.7 	or charge against the employee.
7.8 	(d) A complainant has access to a statement provided by the complainant to a government 
7.9 	entity in connection with a complaint or charge against an employee.
7.10 	(e) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), clause (5), and subject to paragraph (f), upon 
7.11 	completion of an investigation of a complaint or charge against a public official, or if a 
7.12 	public official resigns or is terminated from employment while the complaint or charge is 
7.13 	pending, all data relating to the complaint or charge are public, unless access to the data 
7.14 	would jeopardize an active investigation or reveal confidential sources. For purposes of this 
7.15 	paragraph, "public official" means:
7.16 	(1) the head of a state agency and deputy and assistant state agency heads;
7.17 	(2) members of boards or commissions required by law to be appointed by the governor 
7.18 	or other elective officers;
7.19 	(3) members of the Metropolitan Council appointed by the governor under section 
7.20 	473.123, subdivision 3;
7.21 	(4) executive or administrative heads of departments, bureaus, divisions, or institutions 
7.22 	within state government; and
7.23 	(5) the following employees:
7.24 	(i) the chief administrative officer, or the individual acting in an equivalent position, in 
7.25 	all political subdivisions;
7.26 	(ii) individuals required to be identified by a political subdivision pursuant to section 
7.27 	471.701;
7.28 	(iii) in a city or a county: managers; chiefs; heads or directors of departments, divisions, 
7.29 	bureaus, or boards; and any equivalent position;
7.30 	(iv) in a school district: business managers; human resource directors; athletic directors 
7.31 	whose duties include at least 50 percent of their time spent in administration, personnel, 
7.32 	supervision, and evaluation; chief financial officers; directors; individuals defined as 
8.1 	superintendents and principals under Minnesota Rules, part 3512.0100; and in a charter 
8.2 	school, individuals employed in comparable positions; and
8.3 	(v) in the Metropolitan Council, a public corporation and political subdivision of the 
8.4 	state established under chapter 473: the chair of the Metropolitan Council appointed by the 
8.5 	governor; the regional administrator appointed as the principal administrative officer by the 
8.6 	Metropolitan Council under section 473.125; the deputy regional administrator; the general 
8.7 	counsel appointed by the Metropolitan Council under section 473.123, subdivision 8; the 
8.8 	executive heads of divisions, including the general managers and executive directors; the 
8.9 	executive head responsible for compliance with Equal Employment Opportunity provisions 
8.10 	of federal law; and the chief law enforcement officer of the Metropolitan Transit Police 
8.11 	appointed by the regional administrator under section 473.407, subdivision 4.
8.12 	(f) Data relating to a complaint or charge against an employee identified under paragraph 
8.13 	(e), clause (5), are public only if:
8.14 	(1) the complaint or charge results in disciplinary action or the employee resigns or is 
8.15 	terminated from employment while the complaint or charge is pending; or
8.16 	(2) potential legal claims arising out of the conduct that is the subject of the complaint 
8.17 	or charge are released as part of a settlement agreement.
8.18 	This paragraph and paragraph (e) do not authorize the release of data that are made not 
8.19 	public under other law.

8.20 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 15.72, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
8.21 	read:
8.22 		Subd. 1a.Payment information requests. (a) Upon written request from a contractor 
8.23 	or subcontractor of any tier that can provide documentation of participating in the public 
8.24 	improvement project, a public contracting agency must provide information regarding any 
8.25 	progress payment, retainage payment, final payment, or other payment made by the 
8.26 	contracting agency.
8.27 	(b) The information provided under paragraph (a) must include:
8.28 	(1) the amount of the payment;
8.29 	(2) the date the payment was made or approved; and
8.30 	(3) a copy of the payment application submitted by the contractor.
8.31 	For highway construction contracts, a copy of the estimate or voucher generated by the 
8.32 	public contracting agency meets this requirement.
9.1 	(c) The public contracting agency must provide the requested information within seven 
9.2 	calendar days of receipt of the request.
9.3 	(d) The public contracting agency must make available to subcontractors the contact 
9.4 	information for the public contracting agency for payment information under this section. 
9.5 	If the public contracting agency has a website, the agency must post the contact information 
9.6 	on the agency's public website for solicitations or bids or on another apparent location on 
9.7 	the agency's website. If a public contracting agency has an automated Internet-based system 
9.8 	to provide this information, the agency may request a requestor to use that system.
9.9 	(e) No cost or fees may be charged to the contractor or subcontractor providing 
9.10 	information required under this section.

9.11 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 15A.082, subdivision 3, is amended 
9.12 	to read:
9.13 		Subd. 3.Submission of recommendations and determination. (a) By September 1 in 
9.14 	each even-numbered year, the Compensation Council shall submit to the speaker of the 
9.15 	house and the president of the senate salary recommendations for justices of the supreme 
9.16 	court, and judges of the court of appeals and district court. The recommended salaries take 
9.17 	effect on July 1 of the next year and July 1 of the subsequent even-numbered year, unless 
9.18 	the legislature by law provides otherwise. The salary recommendations take effect if an 
9.19 	appropriation of money to pay the recommended salaries is enacted after the 
9.20 	recommendations are submitted and before their effective date. Recommendations may be 
9.21 	expressly modified or rejected.
9.22 	(b) By April May 1 in each odd-numbered year, the Compensation Council must prescribe 
9.23 	salaries for constitutional officers, and for the agency and metropolitan agency heads 
9.24 	identified in section 15A.0815. The prescribed salary for each office must take effect July 
9.25 	1 of that year and July 1 of the subsequent even-numbered year and at whatever interval 
9.26 	the council determines thereafter, unless the legislature by law provides otherwise. An 
9.27 	appropriation by the legislature to fund the relevant office, branch, or agency of an amount 
9.28 	sufficient to pay the salaries prescribed by the council constitutes a prescription by law as 
9.29 	provided in the Minnesota Constitution, article V, sections 4 and 5.
9.30 	(c) By AprilMay 1 in each odd-numbered year, the Compensation Council must prescribe 
9.31 	daily compensation for voting members of the Direct Care and Treatment executive board. 
9.32 	The recommended daily compensation takes effect on July 1 of that year and July 1 of the 
9.33 	subsequent even-numbered year and at whatever interval the council recommends thereafter, 
9.34 	unless the legislature by law provides otherwise.

10.1 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 16B.32, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
10.2 		Subdivision 1.Alternative energy sources. (a) If the incorporation of cost-effective 
10.3 	energy efficiency measures into the design, materials, and operations of a building or major 
10.4 	building renovation subject to section 16B.325 is not sufficient to meet Sustainable Building 
10.5 	2030 energy performance standards required under section 216B.241, subdivision 9, 
10.6 	cost-effective renewable energy sources or solar thermal energy systems, or both, must be 
10.7 	deployed to achieve those standards.
10.8 	(b) The commissioners of administration and commerce shall review compliance of 
10.9 	building designs and plans subject to this section with Sustainable Building 2030 performance 
10.10 	standards developed under section 216B.241, subdivision 9, and shall make recommendations 
10.11 	to the legislature as necessary to ensure that those performance standards are met.
10.12 	(c) For the purposes of this section:
10.13 	(1) "benchmark" has the meaning given in section 216C.331, subdivision 1, paragraph 
10.14 	(c);
10.15 	(2) "energy" has the meaning given in section 216C.331, subdivision 1, paragraph (h);
10.16 	(3) "energy conservation" has the meaning given in section 216B.2402, subdivision 5, 
10.17 	and for energy sources identified in section 216C.331, subdivision 1, paragraph (h);
10.18 	(4) "energy conservation improvement" has the meaning given in section 216B.2402, 
10.19 	subdivision 6;
10.20 	(1) (5) "energy efficiency" has the meaning given for energy in section 216B.2402, 
10.21 	subdivision 7;
10.22 	(2) (6) "renewable energy" has the meaning given in section 216B.2422, subdivision 1, 
10.23 	paragraph (c), and includes hydrogen generated from wind, solar, or hydroelectric; and
10.24 	(3) (7) "solar thermal energy systems" has the meaning given to "qualifying solar thermal 
10.25 	project" in section 216B.2411, subdivision 2, paragraph (e).;
10.26 	(8) "water conservation" means an action that results in the net reduction of water 
10.27 	consumption;
10.28 	(9) "water conservation improvement" means a project or program that results in the 
10.29 	efficient use and conservation of water; and
10.30 	(10) "water efficiency" means measures or programs designed to use less water to 
10.31 	accomplish the same outcome, including reducing input or wastewater.

11.1 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 16B.32, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
11.2 		Subd. 2.Energy conservation goals shared savings program. The commissioner of 
11.3 	administration in consultation with the commissioner of commerce, in cooperation with 
11.4 	one or more public utilities or comprehensive energy services providers, may conduct a 
11.5 	shared-savings program involving energy conservation expenditures on state-owned and 
11.6 	wholly state-leased buildings. The public utility or energy services provider shall contract 
11.7 	with appropriate state agencies to implement energy efficiency improvements in the selected 
11.8 	buildings. A contract must require the public utility or energy services provider to include 
11.9 	all energy efficiency improvements in selected buildings that are calculated to achieve a 
11.10 	cost payback within ten years. The contract must require that the public utility or energy 
11.11 	services provider be repaid solely from energy cost savings and only to the extent of energy 
11.12 	cost savings. Repayments must be interest-free. The goal of the program in this paragraph 
11.13 	is to demonstrate that through effective energy conservation the total energy consumption 
11.14 	per square foot of state-owned and wholly state-leased buildings could exceed existing 
11.15 	energy code by at least 30 percent. All agencies must report to the commissioner of 
11.16 	administration their monthly energy usage, building schedules, inventory of 
11.17 	energy-consuming equipment, and other information as needed by the commissioner to 
11.18 	manage and evaluate the program.

11.19 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 16B.32, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
11.20 	read:
11.21 		Subd. 4.Energy and water data collection. An agency with the custodial control for 
11.22 	a facility must report the material energy and water consumption and cost data for the facility 
11.23 	to the commissioner on a basis determined by the commissioner.

11.24 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 16B.32, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
11.25 	read:
11.26 		Subd. 5.Energy and water goals; conservation improvement plans. An agency must 
11.27 	maintain energy and water benchmarks and goals, developed in partnership with the 
11.28 	commissioner, for buildings under the agency's custodial control. Each state agency must 
11.29 	maintain a plan to implement energy and water conservation improvements, the cost of 
11.30 	which can be recuperated within 15 years from the energy savings achieved by the 
11.31 	improvements, for each facility for which the agency has custodial control.

12.1 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 16B.372, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
12.2 		Subdivision 1.Enterprise sustainability. The Office of Enterprise Sustainability is 
12.3 	established to assist all state agencies in making measurable progress toward improving the 
12.4 	sustainability of government operations by reducing the impact on the environment, 
12.5 	controlling unnecessary waste of natural resources and public funds, and spurring innovation. 
12.6 	The office shall create new tools and share best practices, assist state agencies to plan for 
12.7 	and implement improvements, and monitor progress toward achieving intended outcomes. 
12.8 	Specific duties include but are not limited to:
12.9 	(1) managing a sustainability metrics and reporting system, including setting 
12.10 	enterprise-wide goals, and publishing a public dashboard that allows Minnesotans to track 
12.11 	progress and that is updated annually;
12.12 	(2) assisting agencies in developing and executing sustainability plans; and
12.13 	(3) implementing the state building energy conservation improvement revolving loan 
12.14 	in Minnesota Statutes, sections 16B.86 and 16B.87.

12.15 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 16B.97, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
12.16 		Subd. 4.Duties. (a) The commissioner shall:
12.17 	(1) create general grants management policies and procedures that are applicable to all 
12.18 	executive agencies. The commissioner may approve exceptions to these policies and 
12.19 	procedures for particular grant programs. Exceptions shall expire or be renewed after five 
12.20 	years. Executive agencies shall retain management of individual grants programs;
12.21 	(2) provide a central point of contact concerning statewide grants management policies 
12.22 	and procedures;
12.23 	(3) serve as a resource to executive agencies in such areas as training, evaluation, 
12.24 	collaboration, and best practices in grants management;
12.25 	(4) ensure grants management needs are considered in the development, upgrade, and 
12.26 	use of statewide administrative systems and leverage existing technology wherever possible;
12.27 	(5) oversee and approve future professional and technical service contracts and other 
12.28 	information technology spending related to executive agency grants management systems 
12.29 	and activities;
12.30 	(6) provide a central point of contact for comments about executive agencies violating 
12.31 	statewide grants governance policies and about fraud and waste in grants processes;
13.1 	(7) forward received comments to the appropriate agency for further action, and may 
13.2 	follow up as necessary;
13.3 	(8) provide a single listing of all available executive agency competitive grant 
13.4 	opportunities and resulting grant recipients;
13.5 	(9) selectively review development and implementation of executive agency grants, 
13.6 	policies, and practices; and
13.7 	(10) selectively review executive agency compliance with best practices.
13.8 	(b) The commissioner may determine that it is cost-effective for agencies to develop 
13.9 	and use shared grants management technology systems. This system would be governed 
13.10 	under section 16E.01, subdivision 3, paragraph (b).

13.11 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 16B.97, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
13.12 		Subd. 5.Data classification. Data maintained by the commissioner that identify a person 
13.13 	providing comments to the commissioner under subdivision 4, paragraph (a), clauses (6) 
13.14 	and (7), are private and nonpublic data but may be shared with the executive agency that is 
13.15 	the subject of the comments.

13.16 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 16B.98, subdivision 11, is amended to read:
13.17 		Subd. 11.Encumbrance exception. Notwithstanding subdivision 5, paragraph (a), 
13.18 	clause (2) (3), or section 16C.05, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (3), agencies may 
13.19 	permit a specifically named, legislatively appropriated, noncompetitive grant recipient to 
13.20 	incur eligible expenses based on an agreed upon work plan and budget for up to 60 days 
13.21 	prior to an encumbrance being established in the accounting system.

13.22 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 16B.991, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
13.23 		Subdivision 1.Criminal conviction. Each grant agreement subject to sections 16B.97 
13.24 	and 16B.98 must provide that the agreement will immediately be terminated if the recipient 
13.25 	is convicted of a criminal offense relating to a state grant agreement. "Recipient" includes 
13.26 	individuals, entities, and key personnel of entities, including board members, officers, 
13.27 	executives, employees, or agents with authority over or access to grant funds, and any 
13.28 	individual in a position of fiduciary responsibility related to the grant.

14.1 	Sec. 21. [43A.205] TRAINING EMPLOYEES ON PREVENTING, RECOGNIZING, 
14.2 	AND REACTING TO FRAUD.
14.3 	The commissioner of management and budget must provide annual training to state 
14.4 	employees on preventing, recognizing, and reacting to suspected fraud or misuse of state 
14.5 	funds. The training must highlight the legal requirements of the employee to report fraud 
14.6 	and must require each employee to sign an acknowledgment that the employee has completed 
14.7 	the annual training, and that the employee is aware of the consequences for failing to report 
14.8 	fraud and to make a payment on a claim or demand in violation of section 609.455.

14.9 	Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 43A.231, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
14.10 		Subd. 5.Report; savings determination; process for selecting successor pharmacy 
14.11 	benefit manager. (a) The commissioner of management and budget, with the assistance of 
14.12 	an actuarial consultant, shall compare the following: (1) actual, electronically adjudicated 
14.13 	prescription drug costs under the first two years of the contract that begins on January 1, 
14.14 	2023, with a pharmacy benefit manager that was selected by the reverse auction; and (2) a 
14.15 	projection of what prescription drug costs would have been for those same two years under 
14.16 	the pharmacy benefit manager contract in effect from 2018 to 2022, with appropriate 
14.17 	adjustment for any adopted formulary or beneficiary utilization changes. The projection 
14.18 	must use industry-recognized data sources. The commissioner of management and budget 
14.19 	shall report the results of the comparison to the legislative auditor and to the chairs and 
14.20 	ranking minority members of the committees in the senate and house of representatives 
14.21 	with jurisdiction over state government finance and policy by March 1, 2025.
14.22 	(b) The commissioner of management and budget must require the actuarial consultant 
14.23 	to take appropriate measures to ensure that the consultant's work is not compromised by a 
14.24 	conflict of interest.
14.25 	(c) By April 1, 2025, the legislative auditor shall provide a report to the commissioner 
14.26 	of management and budget and to the chairs and ranking minority members of the committees 
14.27 	in the senate and house of representatives with jurisdiction over state government finance 
14.28 	and policy. The legislative auditor's report must make a determination as to whether the 
14.29 	commissioner's report accurately performs the comparison required under paragraph (a).
14.30 	(d) The technology platform vendor shall provide to the commissioner of management 
14.31 	and budget and to the legislative auditor the electronically adjudicated prescription drug 
14.32 	data and any other support or assistance required by the commissioner of management and 
14.33 	budget to prepare a report and for the legislative auditor to validate the accuracy of the 
14.34 	commissioner's results of the comparison, by deadlines established by the commissioner of 
15.1 	management and budget and the legislative auditor. Individual-identifying data received 
15.2 	from the technology platform vendor is private data on individuals, as defined by section 
15.3 	13.02, subdivision 12.
15.4 	(e) If the commissioner of management and budget determines that savings on 
15.5 	prescription drug costs were not achieved, based on the comparison required under paragraph 
15.6 	(a), with appropriate adjustment for any adopted formulary or beneficiary utilization changes, 
15.7 	the commissioner may forego the use of a reverse auction for procurement of a successor 
15.8 	pharmacy benefit manager contract. If the commissioner of management and budget 
15.9 	determines that savings have been achieved, the commissioner must select the successor 
15.10 	pharmacy benefit manager contract using the reverse auction process described in this 
15.11 	section. If the commissioner's comparison in paragraph (a) finds that savings are not achieved, 
15.12 	the commissioner's report under paragraph (a) must include the commissioner's findings 
15.13 	that support a determination that savings were not achieved, analysis of the factors that 
15.14 	caused a failure to achieve savings, and recommendations for how savings could be achieved 
15.15 	in the next contract with a pharmacy benefit manager. If the commissioner's comparison in 
15.16 	paragraph (a) is inconclusive, the commissioner may forego the use of a reverse auction for 
15.17 	procurement of a successor pharmacy benefit manager contract.

15.18 	Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 129D.13, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
15.19 		Subdivision 1.Distribution. The commissioner shall distribute the money provided by 
15.20 	sections 129D.11 to 129D.13. Annually the commissioner shall make block grants which 
15.21 	shall be distributed in equal amounts to public stations for operational costs. The 
15.22 	commissioner shall allocate money appropriated for the purposes of sections 129D.11 to 
15.23 	129D.13 in such a manner that each eligible public station receives a block grant. In addition, 
15.24 	the commissioner shall make matching grants to public stations. Matching grants shall be 
15.25 	used for operational costs and shall be allocated using the procedure developed for 
15.26 	distribution of state money under this section for grants made in fiscal year 1979. No station's 
15.27 	matching grant in any fiscal year shall exceed the amount of Minnesota-based contributions 
15.28 	received by that station in the previous fiscal year. Grants made pursuant to this subdivision 
15.29 	may only be given to those federally licensed stations that are were certified as eligible for 
15.30 	community service grants through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 2024. Grant 
15.31 	funds not expended by a station during the first year of the biennium do not cancel and may 
15.32 	be carried over into the second fiscal year.

16.1 	Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 138.669, is amended to read:
16.2 	138.669 CONTRACTS FOR HISTORIC SITE MANAGEMENT.
16.3 	The Minnesota Historical Society may contract with a county, municipality, or a county 
16.4 	or local historical society for the management and operation of sites in the state historic site 
16.5 	network. Notwithstanding section 138.668, the contract may provide for the retention of 
16.6 	admission fees received by the management unit and for grants-in-aid to the management 
16.7 	unit for use in the site's operation and maintenance.

16.8 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

16.9 	Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 268.058, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
16.10 		Subdivision 1.Lien. (a) Any amount due under this chapter or section 116L.20, from 
16.11 	an applicant or an employer, becomes a lien upon all the property, within this state, both 
16.12 	real and personal, of the person liable, from the date of assessment. The term "date of 
16.13 	assessment" means the date the obligation was due.
16.14 	(b) The lien is not enforceable against any purchaser, mortgagee, pledgee, holder of a 
16.15 	Uniform Commercial Code security interest, mechanic's lien, or judgment lien creditor, 
16.16 	until a notice of lien has been filed with the county recorder of the county where the property 
16.17 	is situated, or in the case of personal property belonging to a nonresident person in the Office 
16.18 	of the Secretary of State. When the notice of lien is filed with the county recorder, the fee 
16.19 	for filing and indexing is as provided in sections 272.483 and 272.484.
16.20 	(c) Notices of liens, lien renewals, and lien releases, in a form prescribed by the 
16.21 	commissioner, may be filed with the county recorder or the secretary of state by mail, or
16.22 	personal delivery, or by electronic transmission into the computerized filing system of the 
16.23 	secretary of state. The secretary of state must, on any notice filed with that office, transmit 
16.24 	the notice electronically to the appropriate county recorder. The filing officer, whether the 
16.25 	county recorder or the secretary of state, must endorse and index a printout of the notice as 
16.26 	if the notice had been mailed or delivered.
16.27 	(d) County recorders and the secretary of state must enter information on lien notices, 
16.28 	renewals, and releases into the central database of the secretary of state respective databases 
16.29 	established for lien notices, renewals, and releases. For notices filed electronically with the 
16.30 	county recorders, the date and time of receipt of the notice and county recorder's file number, 
16.31 	and for notices filed electronically with the secretary of state, the secretary of state's recording 
16.32 	information, must be entered into the central database before the close of the working day 
16.33 	following the day of the original data entry by the commissioner.
17.1 	(e) The lien imposed on personal property, even though properly filed, is not enforceable 
17.2 	against a purchaser of tangible personal property purchased at retail or personal property 
17.3 	listed as exempt in sections 550.37, 550.38, and 550.39.
17.4 	(f) A notice of lien filed has priority over any security interest arising under chapter 336, 
17.5 	article 9, that is perfected prior in time to the lien imposed by this subdivision, but only if:
17.6 	(1) the perfected security interest secures property not in existence at the time the notice 
17.7 	of lien is filed; and
17.8 	(2) the property comes into existence after the 45th calendar day following the day the 
17.9 	notice of lien is filed, or after the secured party has actual notice or knowledge of the lien 
17.10 	filing, whichever is earlier.
17.11 	(g) The lien is enforceable from the time the lien arises and for ten years from the date 
17.12 	of filing the notice of lien. A notice of lien may be renewed before expiration for an additional 
17.13 	ten years.
17.14 	(h) The lien is enforceable by levy under subdivision 2 or by judgment lien foreclosure 
17.15 	under chapter 550.
17.16 	(i) The lien may be imposed upon property defined as homestead property in chapter 
17.17 	510 but may be enforced only upon the sale, transfer, or conveyance of the homestead 
17.18 	property.
17.19 	(j) The commissioner may sell and assign to a third party the commissioner's right of 
17.20 	redemption in specific real property for liens filed under this subdivision. The assignee is 
17.21 	limited to the same rights of redemption as the commissioner, except that in a bankruptcy 
17.22 	proceeding, the assignee does not obtain the commissioner's priority. Any proceeds from 
17.23 	the sale of the right of redemption are credited to the contingent account.

17.24 	Sec. 26. [561.015] RACING FACILITIES; IMMUNITY.
17.25 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have 
17.26 	the meanings given.
17.27 	(b) "Area of the racing facility" means within a three-mile radius of the perimeter of the 
17.28 	property or contiguous group of properties where a racing facility is located.
17.29 	(c) "Racing facility" means a designated area, facility, or track where competitive vehicle 
17.30 	and motorsport races are conducted, including the track, spectator areas, garages, and any 
17.31 	associated grounds, buildings, or appurtenances used to operate the races.
18.1 		Subd. 2.Immunity. A racing facility is immune from any action brought by a surrounding 
18.2 	property owner under any claim of nuisance if the racing facility was built before the 
18.3 	surrounding real property owner either purchased or built the real property in the area of 
18.4 	the racing facility.
18.5 		Subd. 3.Substantial and material expansion. Subdivision 2 does not apply if the racing 
18.6 	facility makes a substantial and material expansion of operations that results in a significant 
18.7 	increase in the overall intensity of use of the facility, including but not limited to a 
18.8 	demonstrable increase in the number of racing event days beyond historical patterns of 
18.9 	operation existing at the time the person commencing an action acquired or improved the 
18.10 	person's property.
18.11 		Subd. 4.Construction. Nothing in this section shall be construed to exempt racing 
18.12 	facilities from compliance with state or federal environmental laws or health and safety 
18.13 	regulations.
18.14 		Subd. 5.Preexisting operations; nuisance. Notwithstanding any other law, a nuisance 
18.15 	action may not be maintained against a lawful preexisting operation based on noise or other 
18.16 	impacts resulting from operations if the use was in existence prior to the claimant acquiring 
18.17 	or improving the affected property. This subdivision does not apply if the operation has 
18.18 	undergone a substantial and material expansion resulting in a significant increase in the 
18.19 	intensity of use relative to historical operations at the time the claimant acquired or improved 
18.20 	the property.  Nothing in this subdivision exempts an operation from compliance with 
18.21 	applicable state or federal law.

18.22 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2026, and applies to causes 
18.23 	of action commenced on or after that date.

18.24 	Sec. 27. REVISOR INSTRUCTION.
 18.25 	The revisor of statutes shall change the section headnote of Minnesota Statutes 2024, 
18.26 	section 16B.32, to "ENERGY AND WATER USE."

18.27 	ARTICLE 2
18.28 	LOCAL GOVERNMENT

18.29 	Section 1. [15.1711] ATTORNEY GENERAL CIVIL LAW ENFORCEMENT 
18.30 	ACTIONS.
18.31 	When the attorney general institutes a civil law enforcement action on behalf of the state 
18.32 	pursuant to any authority granted by common law, the constitution of this state, or any 
19.1 	provision of law, the attorney general acts in the public interest of the state and not as the 
19.2 	legal representative or attorney of any department, agency, board, commission, or other 
19.3 	instrumentality of state government, including the executive, legislative, or judicial branches. 
19.4 	When the attorney general institutes a civil law enforcement action on behalf of the state, 
19.5 	the following apply:
19.6 	(1) unless expressly named as a party, other public officers, departments, agencies, 
19.7 	boards, commissions, or other instrumentalities of state government are not parties to the 
19.8 	civil law enforcement action brought by the attorney general on behalf of the state and are 
19.9 	not subject to party discovery in the action;
19.10 	(2) the records, documents, data, knowledge, and information of other state departments, 
19.11 	agencies, boards, commissions, or other instrumentalities of state government may only be 
19.12 	sought by the party adverse to the state in discovery through subpoenas issued to nonparties 
19.13 	pursuant to the Rules of Civil Procedure; and
19.14 	(3) the records, documents, data, knowledge, and information of other state departments, 
19.15 	agencies, boards, commissions, or other instrumentalities of state government are not in the 
19.16 	possession, custody, or control of the attorney general except for data collected and retained 
19.17 	by the attorney general in anticipation of the civil law enforcement action brought by the 
19.18 	attorney general on behalf of the state.

19.19 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 16B.97, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
19.20 		Subd. 4.Duties. (a) The commissioner shall:
19.21 	(1) create general grants management policies and procedures that are applicable to all 
19.22 	executive agencies. The commissioner may approve exceptions to these policies and 
19.23 	procedures for particular grant programs. Exceptions shall expire or be renewed after five 
19.24 	years. Executive agencies shall retain management of individual grants programs;
19.25 	(2) provide a central point of contact concerning statewide grants management policies 
19.26 	and procedures;
19.27 	(3) serve as a resource to executive agencies in such areas as training, evaluation, 
19.28 	collaboration, and best practices in grants management;
19.29 	(4) ensure grants management needs are considered in the development, upgrade, and 
19.30 	use of statewide administrative systems and leverage existing technology wherever possible;
20.1 	(5) oversee and approve future professional and technical service contracts and other 
20.2 	information technology spending related to executive agency grants management systems 
20.3 	and activities;
20.4 	(6) provide a central point of contact for comments about executive agencies violating 
20.5 	statewide grants governance policies and about fraud and waste in grants processes;
20.6 	(7) forward received comments to the appropriate agency for further action, and may 
20.7 	follow up as necessary;
20.8 	(8) provide a single listing of all available executive agency competitive grant 
20.9 	opportunities and resulting grant recipients;
20.10 	(9) selectively review development and implementation of executive agency grants, 
20.11 	policies, and practices; and
20.12 	(10) selectively review executive agency compliance with best practices.; and
20.13 	(11) provide a standard template summary page for requests for proposals (RFP) that 
20.14 	represent key information about the grant opportunity in a clear and accessible format. The 
20.15 	template must include information regarding the purpose of the program, applicant eligibility, 
20.16 	funding availability and award structure, grant administration requirements, and the 
20.17 	application process. The summary page does not replace or supersede any specific 
20.18 	requirement in the full RFP.
20.19 	(b) The commissioner may determine that it is cost-effective for agencies to develop 
20.20 	and use shared grants management technology systems. This system would be governed 
20.21 	under section 16E.01, subdivision 3, paragraph (b).

20.22 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 118A.09, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
20.23 		Subd. 2.Additional investment authority. Qualifying governments may invest the 
20.24 	amount described in subdivision 3:
20.25 	(1) in index mutual funds based in the United States and indexed to a broad market 
20.26 	United States equity index, on the condition that index mutual fund investments must be 
20.27 	made directly with the main sales office of the fund; or
20.28 	(2) in shares of a company that:
20.29 	(i) is registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission;
20.30 	(ii) concentrates in investment grade fixed income securities;
21.1 	(iii) holds, at the time of purchase, at least 80 percent of its investments in federally 
21.2 	insured or guaranteed securities, including by government sponsored entities; and
21.3 	(iv) has a mission, in part, to provide direct investment in local multifamily housing 
21.4 	development; or
21.5 	(3) with the Minnesota State Board of Investment subject to such terms and minimum 
21.6 	amounts as may be adopted by the board.

21.7 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

21.8 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 118A.09, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
21.9 	read:
21.10 		Subd. 3a.Housing and redevelopment authorities; investment authority. A housing 
21.11 	and redevelopment authority created in a county or statutory or home rule charter city that 
21.12 	meets the criteria of subdivision 1, paragraph (a), clause (1) or (2), may invest its funds in 
21.13 	investments that meet the criteria of subdivision 2, clause (2), subject to the limitations and 
21.14 	requirements for qualifying governments under subdivisions 3 and 4.

21.15 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

21.16 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 118A.09, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
21.17 		Subd. 4.Approval. Before investing pursuant to this section, the governing body of the 
21.18 	qualifying government must adopt a resolution or investment policy that includes the 
21.19 	following statements:
21.20 	(1) the governing body understands that investments under subdivision 2 have a risk of 
21.21 	loss;
21.22 	(2) the governing body understands the type of funds that are being invested and the 
21.23 	specific investment itself; and
21.24 	(3) the governing body certifies that all funds designated for investment through the 
21.25 	State Board of Investment meet the requirements of this section and the policies and 
21.26 	procedures established by the State Board of Investment.

21.27 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.

21.28 	Sec. 6. [358.155] TOWN CLERK NOTARIZATION.
21.29 	It is not a violation of chapters 357, 358, and 359 for a town clerk to notarize, attest, or 
21.30 	authenticate a document pursuant to official duties.

22.1 	Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 365.05, is amended to read:
22.2 	365.05 DEED OF TOWN LAND; FORMALITIES; INTEREST GIVEN.
22.3 	A deed conveying real estate owned by a town must be signed by the chair of the town 
22.4 	board in an official capacity and attested by the clerk. The deed, witnessed and acknowledged, 
22.5 	must give the grantee all of the town's interest in the real estate.

22.6 	Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 365.50, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
22.7 		Subdivision 1.When, where. The first town meeting in a new town must be held within 
22.8 	20 30 days after the town is organized certification of the election results of a ballot question 
22.9 	approving organization of the town. The county board shall name the time and place of the 
22.10 	meeting. The county auditor shall see that ten days' posted notice of the meeting is given 
22.11 	in the town.

22.12 	Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 365.50, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
22.13 		Subd. 2.Meeting officers. The voters present at the meeting shall choose one of their 
22.14 	number as moderator, two others as judges of election, and one as clerk for the purpose of 
22.15 	the meeting. Each of these meeting officers shall take and sign the oath required of a judge 
22.16 	of a general election. The oath may be administered to the judges by the moderator and to 
22.17 	the moderator by one of the judges. The meeting officers shall then run the meeting.

22.18 	Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 367.03, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
22.19 		Subd. 2.New towns. When a new town is organized and supervisors township officers
22.20 	are elected at a the first town meeting prior to the annual town election, they shall serve 
22.21 	only until the next annual town election. At that election three supervisors shall be elected, 
22.22 	one for three years, one for two years, and one for one year, so that the term of one shall 
22.23 	expire each year. At that election, a clerk and a treasurer shall also be elected. The clerk 
22.24 	shall serve until the next annual town election held in an even-numbered year, and the 
22.25 	treasurer shall serve until the next annual town election held in an odd-numbered year. The 
22.26 	number of years for which each is elected shall be indicated on the ballot.

22.27 	Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 367.12, is amended to read:
22.28 	367.12 DEPUTY CLERK.
22.29 	Each town clerk may appoint a deputy, for whose acts the clerk shall be responsible, 
22.30 	and who, in the clerk's absence or disability, shall perform the clerk's duties. If a town clerk 
22.31 	has not appointed a deputy, the town treasurer shall perform the duties of the clerk relating 
23.1 	to receiving candidate filings when the clerk is absent. When the office of the clerk becomes 
23.2 	vacant, a deputy appointed under this section may continue in office as acting clerk until 
23.3 	the vacancy in the office of the clerk is filled.

23.4 	Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 367.161, is amended to read:
23.5 	367.161 DEPUTY TREASURER.
23.6 	Each town treasurer may appoint a deputy not currently serving as an elected official of 
23.7 	the town for whose acts the treasurer is responsible, and who, in case of the treasurer's 
23.8 	absence or disability, shall perform the treasurer's duties. When the office of the treasurer 
23.9 	becomes vacant, a deputy appointed under this section may continue in office as acting 
23.10 	treasurer until the vacancy in the office of the treasurer is filled.

23.11 	Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 379.01, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
23.12 		Subd. 3.Organizational First town meeting. If the result of an election held under this 
23.13 	section is in the affirmative, the county shall arrange for the holding of the first organizational
23.14 	town meeting not more than 30 days after the election in the township to be organized.

23.15 	Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.281, subdivision 13, is amended to read:
23.16 		Subd. 13.County personnel system. "County personnel system" means all employees 
23.17 	in the departments or agencies of county government or joint city and county agencies which 
23.18 	receive their funding in whole or in part from the county board, including employees of the 
23.19 	following, but excluding other employees not subject to a county personnel system because 
23.20 	of state law:
23.21 	(a) (1) elected officials;
23.22 	(b) (2) the Saint Paul-Ramsey Medical Center Commission; and
23.23 	(c) (3) the court administrator of district court; Examiner of Titles.
23.24 	but not including:
23.25 	(1) district court judges;
23.26 	(2) court reporters, law clerks, referees employed by the district court, and the Second 
23.27 	Judicial District administrator's office;
23.28 	(3) court commissioners;
23.29 	(4) the public defender;
24.1 	(5) employees of the Examiner of Titles, Agricultural Extension Service, Humane Society, 
24.2 	Historical Society, and Soil and Water Conservation District; and
24.3 	(6) other employees not subject to a county personnel system because of state law.

24.4 	Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.283, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
24.5 		Subd. 2.Director Chief human resources officer. The director chief human resources 
24.6 	officer shall be appointed by the Ramsey County executive director county manager, on 
24.7 	the basis of merit and fitness as a result of a competitive examination, subject to the approval 
24.8 	of the county board. The director chief human resources officer shall be in the classified
24.9 	unclassified service and shall report directly to and be supervised by the Ramsey County 
24.10 	executive director.

24.11 	Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.283, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
24.12 		Subd. 3.Responsibilities. The chief human resources director officer shall provide 
24.13 	personnel management services and assistance to all county departments, enforce any 
24.14 	personnel rules and regulations adopted by the county board, and carry out the responsibilities 
24.15 	set forth in sections 383A.281 to 383A.301.

24.16 	Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.284, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
24.17 		Subdivision 1.Rulemaking. The chief human resources director officer shall prepare 
24.18 	rules to implement the provisions of sections 383A.281 to 383A.301. The rules shall be 
24.19 	effective upon approval by the county board. Prior to approval, the county board shall hold 
24.20 	a public hearing on the proposed rules after giving notice to county departments, employees, 
24.21 	affected labor organizations, and the public. The rules approved by the county board shall 
24.22 	have the force and effect of law. The rules may be amended or repealed in the same manner 
24.23 	as originally adopted.

24.24 	Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.284, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
24.25 		Subd. 2.Collective bargaining. The executive director county manager or the director's
24.26 	county manager's designee shall be the chief labor negotiator for the county. The executive 
24.27 	director county manager may, as necessary and at discretion, include department heads of 
24.28 	affected departments in the labor negotiation process. The executive director county manager
24.29 	shall recommend to the county board for its final approval all collective bargaining 
24.30 	agreements. To the extent they are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the 
24.31 	compensation, term, and conditions of employment for all employees represented by an 
25.1 	exclusive representative certified pursuant to chapter 179A shall be governed by the collective 
25.2 	bargaining agreement executed by the county board and the parties and it shall supersede 
25.3 	any rule or administrative procedure adopted pursuant to sections 383A.281 to 383A.301, 
25.4 	unless a provision of the agreement is found to violate other state or federal law.

25.5 	Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.284, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
25.6 		Subd. 3.Payroll voucher certification Payrolls approved. The director of chief human 
25.7 	resources officer or the director's officer's authorized agent shall be responsible for 
25.8 	certification of the payroll vouchers that the payment of salary or compensation of persons 
25.9 	named in them have been appointed and employed in accordance with the provisions of 
25.10 	sections 383A.281 to 383A.301 and the rules under sections 383A.281 to 383A.301. No 
25.11 	Ramsey County disbursing or auditing The chief human resources officer or the officer's 
25.12 	authorized agent shall make or approve or take part in making or approving payment for 
25.13 	personal service to not certify a payroll item for a person holding a position in county service 
25.14 	unless the payroll voucher or account for the amount bears the certification of the director 
25.15 	or the authorized agent person has been appointed and employed in accordance with the 
25.16 	provisions of sections 383A.281 to 383A.301 and the rules authorized under sections 
25.17 	383A.281 to 383A.301.

25.18 	Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.284, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
25.19 		Subd. 4.Evaluation; report. The county board shall establish performance indicators 
25.20 	and annually monitor the performance of the personnel management system in the county. 
25.21 	The chief human resources director officer shall periodically review and evaluate current 
25.22 	and future staff needs of all county departments, job classes and descriptions, training and 
25.23 	development, and internal and market comparability of all classification and salary schedules 
25.24 	and report to the county board on these and other personnel management areas, as requested.

25.25 	Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.284, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
25.26 		Subd. 5.Review appointments. Prior to each new appointment to the county personnel 
25.27 	system, the chief human resources director officer shall certify that the person has been 
25.28 	appointed in accordance with sections 383A.281 to 383A.301 and applicable rules and 
25.29 	regulations.

26.1 	Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.285, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
26.2 		Subd. 2.Classification plan. The chief human resources director officer shall maintain, 
26.3 	revise, and administer a classification and salary plan.

26.4 	Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.285, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
26.5 		Subd. 3.Classification of positions. The chief human resources director officer shall 
26.6 	place each position in the classified service in an appropriate class in the classification plan 
26.7 	or in a new class to be created, if appropriate. If a class is unique to a department, the chief 
26.8 	human resources director officer shall consult the head of that department before classifying 
26.9 	the unique positions.

26.10 	Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.285, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
26.11 		Subd. 4.Appeal from classification or reclassification. An appointing authority or an 
26.12 	employee affected by a classification or reclassification of a position may protest the action 
26.13 	in writing to the human resources director. The chief human resources director officer shall 
26.14 	review the classification or reclassification and may change the decision. Neither the 
26.15 	appointing authority nor the employee shall have any further right to appeal a decision 
26.16 	regarding a classification or reclassification to the Personnel Review Board.

26.17 	Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.285, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
26.18 		Subd. 5.Study; implementation. The chief human resources director officer shall 
26.19 	complete a reclassification study within 60 days after receiving a reclassification request. 
26.20 	The appointing authority shall implement the personnel changes required by the 
26.21 	reclassification decision in a timely manner and qualifications for reclassified positions 
26.22 	shall be reasonably commensurate with the requirements of the position.

26.23 	Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.285, subdivision 10, is amended to read:
26.24 		Subd. 10.Unclassifying positions. An employee in the classified service with permanent 
26.25 	tenure, who is an incumbent of a position which becomes unclassified and is not appointed 
26.26 	to or is removed from the unclassified position, shall be transferred by the chief human 
26.27 	resources director officer to a classified position within the same department comparable 
26.28 	to the unclassified position. If a comparable position is unavailable, the person shall be 
26.29 	transferred by the director chief human resources officer to a classified position comparable 
26.30 	to that held immediately prior to being appointed to the position which was unclassified. If 
26.31 	the employee held an unclassified position with the same agency before being appointed to 
27.1 	the classified position that is unclassified, the person shall be transferred by the director
27.2 	chief human resources officer to a classified position comparable to the classified position 
27.3 	next in rank below the position that is unclassified. The employee's salary shall not be less 
27.4 	than it was in the position which was unclassified, but it may be frozen until it is 
27.5 	commensurate with the class and grade of the position to which the employee was transferred.

27.6 	Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.286, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
27.7 		Subd. 2.Unclassified positions. The following positions shall be in the unclassified 
27.8 	service:
27.9 	(a) (1) positions held by elected officials or persons appointed to fill an elected office;
27.10 	(b) (2) one assistant for each elected official;
27.11 	(c) (3) the director or principal administrative officer of a department of county 
27.12 	government or agency created by law, except that the affirmative action officer, human 
27.13 	resources director, internal auditor, and director of budgeting and accounting shall be 
27.14 	positions in the classified service;
27.15 	(d) doctors, residents, and student nurses employed by the county or county agency;
27.16 	(e) (4) members of a board or commission appointed by the county, or the county and 
27.17 	the city, and acting in an advisory capacity;
27.18 	(f) (5) weed inspectors, election judges, or election clerks;
27.19 	(g) special police officers or special deputy sheriffs serving without pay;
27.20 	(h) judges, court administrators, court reporters, receivers, referees, the examiner or 
27.21 	assistant examiners of titles, public defenders, arbiters, jurors, court administrator of district 
27.22 	court, or persons appointed by the district court to make or conduct a special inquiry of a 
27.23 	judicial or temporary character;
27.24 	(i) (6) all positions in the Second Judicial District administrator's office;
27.25 	(j) (7) the executive director county manager and eight principal assistants;
27.26 	(k) the chief executive officer of the medical center and seven principal assistants;
27.27 	(l) interns, student workers, law clerks, or (8) other employees employed for a limited 
27.28 	duration as determined by the county board;
27.29 	(m) (9) positions designated by the county board as unclassified pursuant to subdivision 
27.30 	3;
28.1 	(n) (10) the sheriff, the sheriff's chief deputy, three principal assistants, and a personal 
28.2 	secretary; and
28.3 	(o) (11) the county attorney, the county attorney's first assistant, one principal assistant, 
28.4 	and a personal secretary.

28.5 	Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.286, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
28.6 		Subd. 3.Unclassified positions authorized by county board. (a) The county board 
28.7 	may designate additional positions in the unclassified service if the following criteria are 
28.8 	met:
28.9 	(a) (1) designation of the position is not contrary to the provisions of other law relating 
28.10 	specifically to that department;
28.11 	(b) (2) the person occupying the position of supervisor or a department assistant would 
28.12 	report directly to the department head and would be designated as part of the department 
28.13 	head's management team; and
28.14 	(c) (3) the duties of the position involve significant discretion and substantial involvement 
28.15 	in the development, interpretation, and implementation of department policy.
28.16 	(b) The chief human resources director officer shall certify whether the designation is 
28.17 	consistent or inconsistent with the standards and criteria in this section. The county board 
28.18 	may appeal certification decisions to the Personnel Review Board.

28.19 	Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.288, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
28.20 		Subd. 5.Waiver of competitive examinations. The chief human resources director
28.21 	officer shall establish a procedure and a definition of the criteria for the selection and referral 
28.22 	of qualified applicants to fill positions in routine service classifications involving unskilled 
28.23 	tasks. Applicants to fill vacancies in the classifications shall be exempt from ranking and 
28.24 	certification. The director chief human resources officer shall refer all qualified applicants 
28.25 	to the appointing authority having vacancies in the appropriate classifications.

28.26 	Sec. 30. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.288, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
28.27 		Subd. 6.Classified managerial positions. The chief human resources director officer
28.28 	shall establish criteria for the designation of positions in the classified service as managerial 
28.29 	positions where the duties involve significant discretion and substantial involvement in the 
28.30 	development, interpretation, and implementation of departmental and county policy. The 
28.31 	chief human resources director officer shall designate those classified positions that meet 
29.1 	these criteria in consultation with interested parties, including bargaining units certified 
29.2 	pursuant to chapter 179A representing Ramsey County employees. Classified positions, so 
29.3 	designated, shall be exempt from the examination and certification requirements of this 
29.4 	section, and the provisions of section 383A.289, and shall be filled by means of an open 
29.5 	application and screening process.

29.6 	Sec. 31. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.289, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
29.7 		Subdivision 1.General. The chief human resources director officer shall prepare eligible 
29.8 	lists as provided in this section.

29.9 	Sec. 32. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.289, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
29.10 		Subd. 3.Term of eligibility. The term of eligibility of eligibles on lists shall be 
29.11 	determined by the chief human resources director officer.

29.12 	Sec. 33. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.291, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
29.13 		Subd. 1a.Under county rules. Upon request of the appointing authority, the chief human 
29.14 	resources director officer shall certify eligibles in accordance with rules adopted under 
29.15 	section 383A.284, subdivision 1.

29.16 	Sec. 34. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.292, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
29.17 		Subdivision 1.Temporary appointments. The chief human resources director officer
29.18 	may authorize the appointing authority to make a temporary appointment of not more than 
29.19 	six months in any 12-month period. When practicable, the human resources director may 
29.20 	certify any qualified eligible from an eligible list for the temporary appointment, but may 
29.21 	authorize the appointment of any person deemed qualified by the appointing authority.

29.22 	Sec. 35. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.292, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
29.23 		Subd. 2.Provisional appointments. The chief human resources director officer may 
29.24 	authorize the appointing authority to make a provisional appointment for a position for 
29.25 	which there is no eligible list for a period of time determined by the human resources director 
29.26 	not to exceed six months.

29.27 	Sec. 36. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.294, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
29.28 		Subd. 6.Production of documents. The chief human resources director officer may 
29.29 	make a written request to an employee to produce relevant documents or to a person to 
30.1 	appear for the purpose of giving relevant oral statements or testimony relating to a 
30.2 	disciplinary action of an employee. An employee who is the subject of a disciplinary action 
30.3 	may make a written request to the chief human resources director officer for the production 
30.4 	of relevant documents or for the appearance of a person to give relevant oral statements or 
30.5 	testimony relating to the disciplinary action. The request for the appearance of a person 
30.6 	may be to appear and testify at a hearing of the Personnel Review Board or to appear at a 
30.7 	specified place to give an oral statement prior to a hearing of the Personnel Review Board. 
30.8 	The chief human resources director officer, or the employee upon receipt of a request for 
30.9 	production of relevant documents, shall furnish the requesting party the documents within 
30.10 	ten days of receipt of the written request. A person to whom a request for an appearance 
30.11 	has been made shall appear at the time and place designated in the request. If a party to 
30.12 	whom a request for relevant documents has been made fails to furnish the documents to the 
30.13 	requesting party within ten days of receipt of the request, the requesting party may make 
30.14 	an application to the district court for a determination that the refusal to produce the 
30.15 	documents was unreasonable. If a person to whom a request for appearance has been made 
30.16 	fails to appear at the time and place designated in the request, the party making the request 
30.17 	for appearance may make an application to the district court for a determination that the 
30.18 	failure to appear was unreasonable. If the district court determines that a failure to produce 
30.19 	requested documents or to appear was unreasonable, it may assess costs not exceeding $100 
30.20 	to the requesting party against the refusing party or person.

30.21 	Sec. 37. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.295, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
30.22 		Subdivision 1.Benefits. The chief human resources director officer shall have the 
30.23 	authority to set hours of employment, sick leave, vacation leave, leave of absence without 
30.24 	pay, health insurance, life insurance, and other fringe benefits for employees in the classified 
30.25 	and unclassified service subject to the approval of the county board and in accordance with 
30.26 	the law.

30.27 	Sec. 38. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 383A.295, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
30.28 		Subd. 2.Layoffs. The chief human resources director officer shall adopt rules and 
30.29 	regulations providing for the layoff and reemployment of employees on the basis of the 
30.30 	employee's seniority.

30.31 	Sec. 39. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 429.011, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
30.32 		Subd. 2a.Municipality; certain counties. "Municipality" also includes the following:
31.1 	(1) a county in the case of construction, reconstruction, or improvement of a county 
31.2 	state-aid highway;
31.3 	(2) a county in the case of construction, reconstruction, or improvement of a county 
31.4 	highway as defined in section 160.02 including curbs and gutters and storm sewers;
31.5 	(3) a county exercising its powers and duties under section 444.075, subdivision 1;
31.6 	(4) a county for expenses not paid for under section 403.113, subdivision 3, paragraph 
31.7 	(b), clause (3);
31.8 	(5) a county in the case of the abatement of nuisances; and
31.9 	(6) a county operating an energy improvements financing program under section 
31.10 	216C.436 or 216C.437; and
31.11 	(7) a county in the case of construction, reconstruction, extension, or maintenance of 
31.12 	thermal energy networks as defined in section 216B.2427, subdivision 1, paragraph (s).

31.13 	Sec. 40. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 429.021, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
31.14 		Subdivision 1.Improvements authorized. The council of a municipality shall have 
31.15 	power to make the following improvements:
31.16 	(1) To acquire, open, and widen any street, and to improve the same by constructing, 
31.17 	reconstructing, and maintaining sidewalks, pavement, gutters, curbs, and vehicle parking 
31.18 	strips of any material, or by grading, graveling, oiling, or otherwise improving the same, 
31.19 	including the beautification thereof and including storm sewers or other street drainage and 
31.20 	connections from sewer, water, or similar mains to curb lines.
31.21 	(2) To acquire, develop, construct, reconstruct, extend, and maintain storm and sanitary 
31.22 	sewers and systems, including outlets, holding areas and ponds, treatment plants, pumps, 
31.23 	lift stations, service connections, and other appurtenances of a sewer system, within and 
31.24 	without the corporate limits.
31.25 	(3) To construct, reconstruct, extend, and maintain steam heating mains.
31.26 	(4) To install, replace, extend, and maintain street lights and street lighting systems and 
31.27 	special lighting systems.
31.28 	(5) To acquire, improve, construct, reconstruct, extend, and maintain water works systems, 
31.29 	including mains, valves, hydrants, service connections, wells, pumps, reservoirs, tanks, 
31.30 	treatment plants, and other appurtenances of a water works system, within and without the 
31.31 	corporate limits.
32.1 	(6) To acquire, improve and equip parks, open space areas, playgrounds, and recreational 
32.2 	facilities within or without the corporate limits.
32.3 	(7) To plant trees on streets and provide for their trimming, care, and removal.
32.4 	(8) To abate nuisances and to drain swamps, marshes, and ponds on public or private 
32.5 	property and to fill the same.
32.6 	(9) To construct, reconstruct, extend, and maintain dikes and other flood control works.
32.7 	(10) To construct, reconstruct, extend, and maintain retaining walls and area walls.
32.8 	(11) To acquire, construct, reconstruct, improve, alter, extend, operate, maintain, and 
32.9 	promote a pedestrian skyway system. Such improvement may be made upon a petition 
32.10 	pursuant to section 429.031, subdivision 3.
32.11 	(12) To acquire, construct, reconstruct, extend, operate, maintain, and promote 
32.12 	underground pedestrian concourses.
32.13 	(13) To acquire, construct, improve, alter, extend, operate, maintain, and promote public 
32.14 	malls, plazas or courtyards.
32.15 	(14) To construct, reconstruct, extend, and maintain district heating systems.
32.16 	(15) To construct, reconstruct, alter, extend, operate, maintain, and promote fire protection 
32.17 	systems in existing buildings, but only upon a petition pursuant to section 429.031, 
32.18 	subdivision 3.
32.19 	(16) To acquire, construct, reconstruct, improve, alter, extend, and maintain highway 
32.20 	sound barriers.
32.21 	(17) To improve, construct, reconstruct, extend, and maintain gas and electric distribution 
32.22 	facilities owned by a municipal gas or electric utility.
32.23 	(18) To purchase, install, and maintain signs, posts, and other markers for addressing 
32.24 	related to the operation of enhanced 911 telephone service.
32.25 	(19) To improve, construct, extend, and maintain facilities for Internet access and other 
32.26 	communications purposes, provided that the municipality must:
32.27 	(i) not discriminate in favor of the municipality's own communications facilities by 
32.28 	granting the municipality more favorable or less burdensome terms and conditions than a 
32.29 	nonmunicipal service provider with respect to: (A) access and use of public rights-of-way; 
32.30 	(B) access and use of municipally owned or controlled conduit, towers, and utility poles; 
32.31 	and (C) permitting fees charged to access municipally owned and managed facilities;
33.1 	(ii) maintain separation between the municipality's role as a regulator over firms that 
33.2 	offer services in competition with the services offered by the municipality over the 
33.3 	municipality's communications service facilities, and the municipality's role as a competitive 
33.4 	provider of services over the municipality's communications service facilities; and
33.5 	(iii) not share inside information between employees or contractors responsible for 
33.6 	executing the municipality's role as a regulator over firms that offer communications services 
33.7 	in competition with the communication services offered by the municipality, and employees 
33.8 	or contractors responsible for executing the municipality's role as a competitive 
33.9 	communications services provider.
33.10 	(20) To assess affected property owners for all or a portion of the costs agreed to with 
33.11 	an electric utility, telecommunications carrier, or cable system operator to bury or alter a 
33.12 	new or existing distribution system within the public right-of-way that exceeds the utility's 
33.13 	design and construction standards, or those set by law, tariff, or franchise, but only upon 
33.14 	petition under section 429.031, subdivision 3.
33.15 	(21) To assess affected property owners for repayment of voluntary energy improvement 
33.16 	financings under section 216C.436, subdivision 7, or 216C.437, subdivision 28.
33.17 	(22) To construct, reconstruct, alter, extend, operate, maintain, and promote energy 
33.18 	improvement projects in existing buildings, provided that:
33.19 	(i) a petition for the improvement is made by a property owner under section 429.031, 
33.20 	subdivision 3;
33.21 	(ii) the municipality funds and administers the energy improvement project;
33.22 	(iii) project funds are only used for the installation of improvements to heating, 
33.23 	ventilation, and air conditioning equipment and building envelope and for the installation 
33.24 	of renewable energy systems;
33.25 	(iv) each property owner petitioning for the improvement receives notice that free or 
33.26 	low-cost energy improvements may be available under federal, state, or utility programs;
33.27 	(v) for energy improvement projects on residential property, only residential property 
33.28 	having five or more units may obtain financing for projects under this clause; and
33.29 	(vi) prior to financing an energy improvement project or imposing an assessment for a 
33.30 	project, written notice is provided to the mortgage lender of any mortgage encumbering or 
33.31 	otherwise secured by the property proposed to be improved.
34.1 	(23) To construct, reconstruct, extend, and maintain thermal energy networks as defined 
34.2 	in section 216B.2427, subdivision 1, paragraph (s).

34.3 	Sec. 41. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 444.075, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
34.4 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) The definitions in this subdivision apply in to this section.
34.5 	(a)(b) "Municipality" means a home rule charter or statutory city or a town.
34.6 	(b)(c) "Governing body" means the town board with respect to towns.
34.7 	(c)(d) "Waterworks" means waterworks systems, including mains, valves, hydrants, 
34.8 	service connections, wells, pumps, reservoirs, tanks, treatment plants, thermal energy 
34.9 	networks as defined in section 216B.2427, subdivision 1, paragraph (s), and other 
34.10 	appurtenances of a waterworks system.
34.11 	(d)(e) "Sanitary sewer" means sanitary sewer systems, including sewage treatment 
34.12 	works, disposal systems, and other facilities for disposing of sewage, industrial waste, or 
34.13 	other wastes.
34.14 	(e)(f) "Storm sewer" means storm sewer systems, including mains, holding areas and 
34.15 	ponds, and other appurtenances and related facilities for the collection and disposal of 
34.16 	stormwater.
34.17 	(f)(g) "Facilities" means and includes waterworks, sanitary sewer and storm sewer 
34.18 	systems, or any portion or portions thereof.

34.19 	Sec. 42. [462.3599] DATA CENTERS.
34.20 		Subdivision 1.Findings and purpose. The legislature finds that nondisclosure 
34.21 	agreements which prevent the public from receiving sufficient information about data center 
34.22 	projects of significant scope and impact on local communities prior to their approval 
34.23 	constitute a detriment to government transparency. It is therefore in the public interest that 
34.24 	such contracts are limited as to not impair public participation in land use decisions.
34.25 		Subd. 2.Applicability. This section applies to nondisclosure agreements entered into 
34.26 	on or after January 1, 2021.
34.27 		Subd. 3.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the 
34.28 	meanings given.
34.29 	(b) "Data center" means a facility composed of one or more buildings that has a primary 
34.30 	purpose of providing for the storage, management, or processing of digital data.
35.1 	(c) "End user" means the owner or operator of a constructed data center.
35.2 	(d) "Municipality" means a county, home rule charter or statutory city, or town.
35.3 	(e) "Security guard" has the meaning given in section 326.32, subdivision 13.
35.4 		Subd. 4.Public hearings required. A municipality must hold at least two public hearings 
35.5 	prior to the approval of a rezoning petition or an application for a conditional use or special 
35.6 	use permit made for the construction of a data center.
35.7 		Subd. 5.Disclosures required. (a) At least one public hearing under subdivision 4 must 
35.8 	be solely for the purpose of informing the public of the petition or application. The 
35.9 	municipality must disclose the following information at least 48 hours before the public 
35.10 	hearing:
35.11 	(1) the name of the petitioner or applicant;
35.12 	(2) the name of the anticipated end user of the proposed data center;
35.13 	(3) the location and size of the proposed data center; and
35.14 	(4) the estimated scope of utilities necessary for operation of the proposed data center, 
35.15 	including but not limited to fuel lines, sewer, stormwater, and electricity.
35.16 	(b) Forty-eight hours before any public meeting held to vote on approval of a petition 
35.17 	or application, the municipality must disclose the information required under paragraph (a).
35.18 	(c) A municipality may make the disclosures required under this subdivision by posting 
35.19 	the information on the municipality's website or by making the same information available 
35.20 	for inspection at a reasonable time and place.
35.21 		Subd. 6.Effect of private agreements. The disclosure requirements under subdivision 
35.22 	5 apply notwithstanding any nondisclosure agreement or other contract signed by a 
35.23 	municipality or an agent of a municipality.

35.24 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2026.

35.25 	Sec. 43. [471.3435] NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS.
35.26 		Subdivision 1.Definition. For purposes of this section, "municipality" means a county, 
35.27 	home rule charter or statutory city, town, school district, housing and redevelopment 
35.28 	authority, economic development authority, port authority, or any other political subdivision 
35.29 	of the state with authority to enter into a contract for the use of real property, and includes 
35.30 	any person acting in their capacity as an employee, elected official, appointed official, or 
35.31 	other representative of a municipality.
36.1 		Subd. 2.Applicability. This section does not apply to:
36.2 	(1) municipal power agencies established under and exercising the powers authorized 
36.3 	by sections 453.51 to 453.62;
36.4 	(2) a city when it is exercising the powers provided in section 453.58; or
36.5 	(3) municipal power agencies formed under the laws of a state other than Minnesota.
36.6 		Subd. 3.Nondisclosure agreements restricted. (a) Except as required by state or federal 
36.7 	law, a municipality must not enter into a nondisclosure agreement or other contract with a 
36.8 	private person restricting the municipality from disclosing information to members of the 
36.9 	public about:
36.10 	(1) the development of land;
36.11 	(2) an economic development project or program on the agenda of a regular, special, or 
36.12 	emergency meeting of the governing body of the municipality; or
36.13 	(3) a project or program financed in whole or in part with the municipality's tax revenues, 
36.14 	financial obligations, or taxing powers, including proposed tax increment financing districts, 
36.15 	economic development abatements, and municipal bonds or other debt obligations.
36.16 	(b) Any agreement or contract, or term of an agreement or contract, that violates paragraph 
36.17 	(a) is void and unenforceable.
36.18 	(c) If a contract contains a provision that is void and unenforceable under paragraph (b), 
36.19 	the provision must be severed from the other provisions of the contract to the extent that 
36.20 	the provision is void and unenforceable. The fact that the provision is void and unenforceable 
36.21 	does not affect the other provisions of the contract.

36.22 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment and 
36.23 	applies to agreements entered into, renewed, or extended on or after that date.

36.24 	Sec. 44. [471.372] NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS.
36.25 		Subdivision 1.Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have 
36.26 	the meanings given.
36.27 	(b) "Data center" has the meaning given in section 216B.02, subdivision 11.
36.28 	(c) "Local government official" means a member of a city council, mayor, county 
36.29 	commissioner, town supervisor, and any other elected official established by a home rule 
36.30 	charter, or any employee of a city, county, or town.
37.1 		Subd. 2.Nondisclosure agreements restricted. (a) A local government official must 
37.2 	not enter into a nondisclosure agreement or other contract restricting public disclosure of 
37.3 	information about a potential data center development within the boundaries of the political 
37.4 	subdivision.
37.5 	(b) Any agreement or contract, or term of an agreement or contract, that violates paragraph 
37.6 	(a) is void and unenforceable.
37.7 	(c) When a contract contains a provision that is void and unenforceable under paragraph 
37.8 	(b), that provision must be severed from the other provisions of the contract to the extent 
37.9 	that it is void and unenforceable. The fact that the provision is void and unenforceable does 
37.10 	not affect the other provisions of the contract.
37.11 	(d) If a local government official enters a contract or agreement that violates paragraph 
37.12 	(a), the local government official must publicly disclose the contract or agreement.

37.13 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective August 1, 2026, and applies to agreements 
37.14 	entered into on or after that date.

37.15 	Sec. 45. REPEALER.
 37.16 	(a) Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 383A.298; and 383A.301, are repealed effective 
37.17 	the day after the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners and the county's chief clerical 
37.18 	officer comply with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3.
37.19 	(b) Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 462.357, subdivision 5, is repealed effective the 
37.20 	day following final enactment.

37.21 	Sec. 46. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 37.22 	Sections 12 to 36 are effective the day after the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners 
37.23 	and the county's chief clerical officer comply with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, 
37.24 	subdivisions 2 and 3.

	ARTICLE 1	STATE GOVERNMENT........	Page.Ln 1.29	
	ARTICLE 2	LOCAL GOVERNMENT........	Page.Ln 18.27	

APPENDIX 

Repealed Minnesota Statutes: S4555-2 

383A.298 TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS.
All employees of the Civil Service Department shall be transferred to the Human Resources Department. All members of the Civil Service Commission shall be members of the Personnel Review Board and serve until their current term expires and a successor is appointed. 

383A.301 STATUS OF PRESENT EMPLOYEES.
Each person holding a position with the county of Ramsey who has acquired permanent tenure or who was serving a probationary period on the effective date of sections 383A.281 to 383A.301 retains the position, seniority date, and accrued benefits. 

462.357 OFFICIAL CONTROLS: ZONING ORDINANCE.Subd. 5.Amendment; certain cities of the first class. 
The provisions of this subdivision apply to the adoption or amendment of any portion of a zoning ordinance which changes all or part of the existing classification of a zoning district from residential to either commercial or industrial of a property located in a city of the first class, except a city of the first class in which a different process is provided through the operation of the city's home rule charter. In a city to which this subdivision applies, amendments to a zoning ordinance shall be made in conformance with this section but only after there shall have been filed in the office of the city clerk a written consent of the owners of two-thirds of the several descriptions of real estate situate within 100 feet of the total contiguous descriptions of real estate held by the same owner or any party purchasing any such contiguous property within one year preceding the request, and after the affirmative vote in favor thereof by a majority of the members of the governing body of any such city. The governing body of such city may, by a two-thirds vote of its members, after hearing, adopt a new zoning ordinance without such written consent whenever the planning commission or planning board of such city shall have made a survey of the whole area of the city or of an area of not less than 40 acres, within which the new ordinance or the amendments or alterations of the existing ordinance would take effect when adopted, and shall have considered whether the number of descriptions of real estate affected by such changes and alterations renders the obtaining of such written consent impractical, and such planning commission or planning board shall report in writing as to whether in its opinion the proposals of the governing body in any case are reasonably related to the overall needs of the community, to existing land use, or to a plan for future land use, and shall have conducted a public hearing on such proposed ordinance, changes or alterations, of which hearing published notice shall have been given in a daily newspaper of general circulation at least once each week for three successive weeks prior to such hearing, which notice shall state the time, place and purpose of such hearing, and shall have reported to the governing body of the city its findings and recommendations in writing.