HF 2375

as introduced - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026) Posted on 03/17/2025 02:58pm

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; authorizing research on autonomous mower technology
by the Department of Transportation; requiring a report; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin AUTONOMOUS MOWERS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
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new text begin (b) "Autonomous mower" means a robotic or automated device designed, programmed,
and operated to cut grass or vegetation with predefined routes to minimize the need for
manual assistance or intervention.
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new text begin (c) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of transportation.
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new text begin (d) "Department" means the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Research and development authorized. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner must conduct
research on the use of automation and robotics for mowing and vegetation management at
property owned by the department. The research must examine the use of autonomous
mower technology at the following locations:
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new text begin (1) rest areas;
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new text begin (2) highway rights-of-way, including ditches, shoulders, or other varied or sloped terrain;
or
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new text begin (3) other roadside or public-facing property owned by the department.
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new text begin (b) The research must examine the use of autonomous mowing technology for mowing
or vegetation management by other states or government entities. The research conducted
under this section must analyze different configurations and types of autonomous mowers,
including mowers that require different levels of human intervention, to research for future
statewide deployment at rest areas, at or along the trunk highway system, or on other property
owned by the department.
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new text begin (c) The commissioner must research the current and potential commercial availability
of autonomous mowing products used by public or private entities for applications that
include but are not limited to rest area mowing, highway right-of-way ditch mowing,
vegetation management, or other applications related to property or roadside maintenance.
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new text begin (d) The commissioner must include research on Minnesota-based companies engaged
in autonomous mower technology. If the commissioner elects to purchase autonomous
mower technology for research under this section, the commissioner must purchase the
technology from a Minnesota-based company.
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new text begin (e) The research must analyze whether an autonomous mower can operate safely in
varied terrain, including ditches, and navigate obstacles such as culvert ends, guardrails,
signposts, other barriers, and unexpected debris that may be found on or alongside a highway
right-of-way. The research must examine the potential impact of autonomous mowing
technology on worker safety and maintenance staffing needs.
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new text begin (f) The commissioner must propose an autonomous mower pilot project to further study
and examine the challenges to implementing autonomous mower technology into roadside
vegetation management activities. The proposed pilot project must include the proposed
location for the pilot project, the autonomous mower activities examined, and the anticipated
timeline for implementation of the proposed pilot project.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin By February 15, 2027, the commissioner must submit a report to the
chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over
transportation finance and policy on the results of the autonomous mower research authorized
in subdivision 2. The report must include:
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new text begin (1) information and analysis of other governmental agencies or private entities using
autonomous mowing operations;
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new text begin (2) the commissioner's detailed plan for conducting a pilot project with autonomous
mowing technology, once available, at rest areas; at or alongside trunk highway
rights-of-way, including ditches, shoulders, and other terrain; and at other properties owned
by the department;
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new text begin (3) the timeline and funding needed to conduct an autonomous mowing pilot project
established in subdivision 2, paragraph (f);
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new text begin (4) a cost-benefit analysis of whether autonomous mowing technology can yield
productivity or efficiency gains in maintenance of department property compared to
traditional methods of mowing;
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new text begin (5) an analysis of whether the operation of autonomous mowing technology by the
department would yield improvements compared to traditional mowing methods in worker
safety, congestion, environmental impact outcomes, cost savings, maintenance scheduling,
or any other factor deemed relevant by the commissioner; and
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new text begin (6) an analysis of the costs and any other short-term or long-term challenges posed by
the pilot project or the future operation of autonomous mowing technology on property
owned by the department.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $150,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of transportation for autonomous mowing research and the purchase of autonomous mowing
equipment. The commissioner must use at least a portion of this appropriation to purchase
an autonomous mower suitable for commercial mowing operations. The autonomous mower
must be purchased from a company based in Minnesota.
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