[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6087085,"mediaKeyId","2891934-2b91494f015c7774ce19cef36394b633","parentId",2891934,"title","Senate committee hears bill to expand university partnership program for small towns","audioSeconds",147,"startMs",544000,"endMs",691000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2891934-2b91494f015c7774ce19cef36394b633&start=544&end=691","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2891934-2b91494f015c7774ce19cef36394b633/thumbnail_544000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6087085/Minnesota/Senate-committee-hears-bill-to-expand-university-partnership-program-for-small-towns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6087085-083966513929f754b9106b0b2feb2e69/orig.mp4?Expires=1771049471&Signature=EnCZalWOqVq7gdaPg~QGLp6JOQCnTN2XePYIg-6EKIdFrOXaFhjWVUUJDaO5On~GQl~dr4nIQvLNoEvYX9g~rvQVMkFFUhrFEoNzHqJpT7Y4X29NIRzxllpeDejBvQIeNLFGWC0XiUIpNYzYOfdezTKry3PDIMWAJaeJgF~dG5qfGuL0eo3yUU3OFH0g6b1FGRupTb3x-oHFQ2EDkgeRQHqEw3BEQvuRQcegVWKrfAMgTsOGH2kG3~~aGgeM97v1CtjSDu6BsntlB4uL5l6H8VevuiZ5s~7muY4BpB7w7eKSxj0ZGO6xLXNWTd5~HMRiK1MRRKM46PQO196WpH4BpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Minnesota Senate","date","2025-04-07T23:37:26.493Z","article","Senate File 2203, a bill to continue and expand the Empowering Small Minnesota Communities (ESMC) program, was introduced Monday before the Minnesota Senate Transportation Committee with support from the bill sponsor and university partners. The committee heard testimony but did not take public testimony; members laid the bill on the table for possible inclusion in the omnibus.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Pappas, described ESMC as “a very well loved program” that pairs University of Minnesota units with small communities to identify and scope infrastructure projects. Kyle Shelton, director of the University of Minnesota Center for Transportation Studies, told the committee the program—initially funded by the legislature in 2023—works by “an asset based approach really driven by what the communities are identifying as their primary challenges.” Shelton said the university is working with about 45 communities across the state and that more than 30 participated in the program’s first round.

Jolene Brink, a Two Harbors resident and University of Minnesota Extension employee, testified remotely about ESMC work in her city, which she said has a population of 3,531 and hosts more than 1 million annual visitors on Highway 61. Brink said the program helped Two Harbors move toward an implementation plan for turning 40 acres of Agate Bay waterfront into public space. “Despite having the will and lots of heart and community support, [small communities] lack the capacity to develop resilient, sustainable, and adaptable infrastructure projects,” Brink said.

Committee members asked questions about eligibility and program scope. Senator Jasinski asked why the program’s eligibility threshold is set at a population of 15,000 rather than the more typical 5,000 used in transportation contexts. Shelton replied the program uses a 15,000 threshold to allow collaborative projects—where multiple small jurisdictions combine resources—to qualify, while expressing a stated preference to prioritize communities of 5,000 or fewer.

Senator Johnson Stewart offered historical context, saying very small communities often lack engineering capacity and that preparing competitive proposals for federal grants can cost “about $30,000” in up-front effort. No votes were recorded on final passage; the chair announced that Senate File 2203 was laid on the table for possible inclusion in the omnibus bill. The committee will return for additional presentation, public testimony, and amendments at a later hearing.

Background: ESMC is described in testimony as a multi-unit University of Minnesota effort (Center for Transportation Studies, Minnesota Design Center, Extension, Humphrey School, Center for Urban and Regional Affairs) that helps communities scope projects and apply for state and federal funds. The committee packet included letters from participating communities and a statewide project map provided by the program.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee on Transportation - 04/07/25","oneSentenceSummary","Senate File 2203, a bill to continue and expand the Empowering Small Minnesota Communities program, was introduced Monday before the Minnesota Senate Transportation Committee with support from the bill sponsor and university partners.","taxTitle","Transportation, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Minnesota","taxId",15815,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6087068,"Senate Transportation Committee rolls out SF 2082 omnibus; staff outline major funding and policy changes",1466,3984000,5450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2891934-2b91494f015c7774ce19cef36394b633&start=3984&end=5450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2891934-2b91494f015c7774ce19cef36394b633/thumbnail_3984000.jpg","/articles/6087068/Minnesota/Senate-Transportation-Committee-rolls-out-SF-2082-omnibus-staff-outline-major-funding-and-policy-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6087068-a8fe26cfd4e128e639aebe74191a6b02/orig.mp4?Expires=1771049471&Signature=YNYCzhlNcdEeOJ5sqUaB6K9I-HQ63GQoWGTKh0PDREDPZnxTYGDi5vzFOOE0CwY9Tz0WQVNOoURU5YAE4nro0eo8k8mcF7GBhHq-ONeN26K1FoJDRjBTXPkd5zNlQMVFs-wwzMOfolO9L-o4lA6T3K~~izSrd4yMgzeWG0WWxqXq510XTKQPD9o4nJ6N~9zGchLYFOqrSAYL8cWcW~KZZV6N8Uf~UPHh~Ze5wkBDZkalvshaKB6TuPKmIdVKJESEkmk5p5fO4EXSedtJW3MGkFelYKtgHHlGlJo7~Pio0C5oA0Rgd68m-p3gus~j~Y8lAoWCpXEKdwbRVOpgjdG10w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate File 2082, the Senate Transportation omnibus, received an initial rollout Monday in the Minnesota Senate Transportation Committee. Nonpartisan staff and bill drafters walked members through fiscal spreadsheets, major appropriations and numerous policy sections to familiarize the committee before scheduled markup and public testimony later in the week.

Nonpartisan fiscal staff highlighted several large items in article 1 and article 2. Notable fiscal changes on the Senate side include operating adjustments for MnDOT and the Department of Public Safety that incorporate portions of the governor’s recommendations, an increase in general-fund support for Greater Minnesota transit, and authority for substantial federal spending lines (including a large Blotnik Bridge federal grant). The Senate language also includes a trunk-highway bond authorization of $100 million for state road construction (Article 2) and a number of appropriation extensions and cancellations from prior sessions used to meet the Senate fiscal target.

Staff identified a Senate-only temporary revenue change to the distribution of the auto parts sales tax (a portion of which funds the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund and the transportation advancement account). The provision would temporarily reduce the Highway User Tax Distribution percentage in fiscal years 2028–29 to preserve scheduled payments to entities receiving money under the transportation advancement account; staff said the change is intended to avoid an interruption in expected receipts. The package also creates a new Local Government Road Funding Gap Assistance account, with a one-time transfer to help jurisdictions that fall outside existing aid formulas.

Article 3 contains a large set of policy provisions. Drafters described new statutory requirements for “multidisciplinary project development” on capacity-expansion projects, additional guidance and implementation language for a MnDOT complete streets policy, and a requirement that purpose-and-need statements include broader context and timelines. The omnibus would also alter motor-vehicle plate rules, requiring new plates at the time of ownership transfer and providing funds to compensate deputy registrars and license agents for transactions that generate no filing fee.

Other policy highlights include changes to lane-splitting/filtering language for motorcycles (the bill narrows the authorization to lane filtering around stopped traffic and delays the effective date), provisions authorizing limited coordinated unmanned aircraft system (drone) fleet events and related registration fees, and several metropolitan-transit technical changes—among them a code change to allow Metro Mobility free rides on regular-route transit in some circumstances and direct-contracting authority for the Metropolitan Council for certain small-provider procurements.

Committee members asked technical questions; nonpartisan staff noted some spreadsheet errors they would correct and said they would provide additional detail ahead of scheduled markup. The committee will take presentations, public testimony and amendments at the regular hearing later in the week and, if necessary, will resume markup in the same room the following evening.","Committee nonpartisan staff and authors presented the Senate Transportation omnibus (Senate File 2082) to the committee, reviewing large fiscal adjustments and many policy provisions including a temporary change to auto parts sales-tax distribution, a trunk-highway bond authorization, plate-replacement on transfer, lane-filtering rules for motor",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6087073,"Committee advances pilot to help youth obtain driver’s licenses, debates eligibility and oversight",212,1698000,1910000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2891934-2b91494f015c7774ce19cef36394b633&start=1698&end=1910","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2891934-2b91494f015c7774ce19cef36394b633/thumbnail_1698000.jpg","/articles/6087073/Minnesota/Committee-advances-pilot-to-help-youth-obtain-drivers-licenses-debates-eligibility-and-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6087073-522655378b9d75d3ff886b97f357abff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771049471&Signature=ARrylTbxm-lDBM7XTYXj9hdgI-nKLN3CbRoYgHbWpdlO4~LBFRwb8AAerccf6SKBgByeTnN3wDVGdHKRKmHmSjAwFK5UM9F~cqz9J2HLOZooVPDv0LP7U8DlZVa4usL5sr6q4wPJtmxwz8xQV~Xq6ogoNxtdasOHxrXH23wcpJ-meND3MVh6KZUwv6R49~scc23D~t2Q8GBBBS6BmQ7~NDb3uk0rfbv1FfPEhzTkQvOMnUNjoFIpobnYYkmtd1Jy7H~~UDW9mMFdYB0AmfQGwuZI7bU1ImpHHMQPx0IV80ZDhkV9z5LYgofhTZqI6aDI-5MOFaE9qIelhgt81STqew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate File 2197, a bill to create a pilot program providing financial and logistical assistance for driver’s education targeted at opportunity youth, advanced through the Minnesota Senate Transportation Committee on Monday with a voice vote on the author’s amendment. Committee members engaged in extended questioning about eligibility, verification, allowable uses of funds and program administration.

Senator Johnson Stewart offered the bill and its A2 author’s amendment; the committee approved the amendment by voice vote. Johnson Stewart said the program—branded in testimony as “Drive to Thrive”—aims to remove barriers that prevent young people who are homeless, involved in juvenile justice, or enrolled in Minnesota Family Investment Program benefits from obtaining a driver’s license. “This bill would create a pilot program that would remove the financial, logistical, and legal barriers to licensure for these youth,” said Erin Martin, policy director for Youthprise, testifying for the proposal.

Testimony described concrete barriers: Ramsey County’s Driver’s License Academy (funded through American Rescue Plan dollars) received more than 400 applications in 2024, and Ramsey County workforce testimony said the program has helped dozens of young adults obtain licenses at no cost. Witnesses said lack of a license constrains employment, stable housing and participation in training, especially in transit-scarce areas.

Committee members raised multiple implementation questions. Senator Howe questioned broad eligibility for grant recipients and recommended favoring established providers over newly formed organizations. Martin and other testifiers described verification options and referred to existing definitions: McKinney-Vento (federal education definition), HUD/Coordinated Entry (narrower housing definition), and the Minnesota Homeless Youth Act (a middle-ground statutory definition for unaccompanied minors). Committee exchanged technical questions about auditing: funded organizations would be subject to desk audits and reporting requirements through the Department of Public Safety (the bill moves administration from the Department of Education to DPS), the testifier said.

Members also debated allowable uses of individual assistance (an asset cap of $2,200 per youth is included in the bill). Questions focused on proposed reimbursement for fines and fees (up to $700), and whether paying fines is preferable to restorative options that require work or restitution. Senator Nelson asked whether existing schools, private driving schools, or current programs might be leveraged to extend reach of funds rather than adding administrative layers; witnesses said outreach and trusted community partners are central to finding eligible youth. Committee members also flagged operational details such as paying for a vehicle for the road test and whether the bill’s proposed age limits (language in the amendment referenced 16-year-old eligibility in some paragraphs) should be broadened to include 17–19-year-olds who may be in juvenile facilities or workforce programs.

Senator Johnson Stewart and testifiers acknowledged the concerns and committed to tightening verification and allowable-use language during negotiations. The committee laid the bill on the table for possible inclusion in the omnibus; the transcript records the A2 amendment being approved by voice vote (“all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed say no. Motion carries.”) but no roll-call tally was recorded.","Senate File 2197 would fund pilot programs to remove cost and administrative barriers for opportunity youth to obtain driver’s licenses. Testimony and committee discussion focused on eligibility (homelessness definitions), auditing and verification, allowable uses of aid (fines, fees, vehicle access) and age limits. Committee adopted an author",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6087080,"Committee weighs bill to change how rail and pipeline safety assessments are allocated",165,1260000,1425000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2891934-2b91494f015c7774ce19cef36394b633&start=1260&end=1425","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2891934-2b91494f015c7774ce19cef36394b633/thumbnail_1260000.jpg","/articles/6087080/Minnesota/Committee-weighs-bill-to-change-how-rail-and-pipeline-safety-assessments-are-allocated","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6087080-fed0a8a860909b49f36220d931af0f68/orig.mp4?Expires=1771049471&Signature=QqtwiWAe3hvq62xRD6PRDY52~r3F31g3A~rhVXp9nZbcVVrc5PJ1bo6BkdI0G83IVp58Q38vtm8lOdT0slA~o7k7Lr6bpa~qDDaI11qOatmB6AinlJDpwB411s~~LrJQ05grM6Cgktmd1wpRyvTrdvWwq0FT9GE1pLCZ23uux8IS1bGKl~oie38OwkkhY3l~EqYwf5lMoJgZCiS314905BJwiZxr9~H0Teut1oYI5I1WBsOZoNMsBeBO~TSHCQ2s2PU9MR0tWGLm8bVRFzyKhPTAIX0pV81nd-t8ABbjjukQ1TatMMck6bH9vF~-ID0FufwweR7xsKOCaEyBnVxJ6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate File 3161 drew testimony Monday on a proposal to change how assessments are allocated between railroad and pipeline operators to fund safety and training programs. The bill would revise portions of an existing assessment scheme so pipeline contributions fund pipeline-specific safety work rather than being redirected toward railroad-related programs, according to the bill sponsor.

Senator Kupek, sponsor of SF 3161, summarized the current statutory split: “Currently, it is a 70–30 split, between the railroads and the pipelines with the railroads paying 70% and the pipelines paying 30%.” He said lawsuits by two railroads (named in testimony as BNSF and CPKC) have complicated collections and that pipeline funds have been used “basically to pay for rail safety,” leaving pipelines’ contributions to be applied to matters outside their industry.

Dave Frazier, Midwest Region associate director for the American Petroleum Institute, testified in support of reassessing allocations. He said the oil and gas industry “supports these efforts to reevaluate the assessment.” Frazier described industry practices, including federally required PHMSA-approved spill response plans and voluntary training and exercises with state and local first responders. He said a federal Pipeline Emergency Response Grant Program exists and noted the program’s operators already provide training and free HAZMAT responder training to first responders in Minnesota.

Frazier told the committee the industry aims to operate “with 0 incidents” and cited technologies and reporting programs to improve safety. He also said pipeline operators have participated in exercises involving state, local, and tribal agencies and that some federal grant funding is available to support local training efforts. The industry representative said SF 3161 would address a fairness concern by ensuring pipeline assessments are used for pipeline-specific preparedness rather than paying primarily for railroad programs.

Senator Kupek said the proposal is intended to make assessment allocation fairer and to ensure each industry’s payments support its own preparedness needs. The committee laid Senate File 3161 on the table for possible inclusion in the omnibus; no roll-call vote was recorded in transcript.","Senate File 3161 would alter the split of assessments that fund railroad and pipeline safety programs following litigation claims by railroads. Industry representatives told the committee the current distribution has left pipeline fees directed largely to railroad-related activities; committee laid the bill on the table for possible omnibus inclu","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee hears bill to expand university partnership program for small towns

Senate Transportation Committee rolls out SF 2082 omnibus; staff outline major funding and policy changes

Committee advances pilot to help youth obtain driver’s licenses, debates eligibility and oversight

Committee weighs bill to change how rail and pipeline safety assessments are allocated