Senate panel advances transportation omnibus after multiple technical and timing amendments

The Senate Finance Committee on April 25 recommended passage of Senate File 2082, the transportation omnibus bill, after approving a package of technical and policy amendments and resolving several fiscal riders.

Committee members approved amendments that change effective dates, conform appropriations, and alter how certain revenue and bond-related provisions are handled. Senator Pappas moved Amendment A46, which Mr. Greenfield described as delaying the Asset Sustainability Ratio implementation "until the beginning of fiscal year 02/1930" to allow time to evaluate the policy's effects on the State Transportation Improvement Program and other MnDOT expenditures. The committee approved A46 by voice vote. Other amendments approved included A52 (removing language affecting US Highway 8 bonding), A51 (technical, a citation change offered as an amendment to A45), A45 (a technical/conforming amendment as amended by A51), A53 (authorizing leftover funds from a 2023 TMO study to be used toward implementation), and A49 (removing a micro-transit restriction so providers can use metro-area sales tax funds more flexibly).

The committee debated a high-profile provision that would change the statutory definition of "highway purposes." Senator Jasinski offered Amendment A50…