Senate bill would fund statewide aggregate mapping after OLA recommendations; counties, industry back plan

Senator Johnson Stewart presented Senate File 1751 on March 13, advancing a bill to fund statewide mapping of construction aggregate (sand, gravel and crushed stone) and to audit the aggregate production tax. The bill was amended in committee and recommended for referral to the State and Local Government Committee by voice vote.

Johnson Stewart told the committee, “We have a desperate need to preserve, identify, and find aggregate in Minnesota,” and said aggregate is a major component of roads, concrete and asphalt. The bill implements recommendations from a 2018 legislative task force and an updated evaluation; it would fund two years of DNR aggregate mapping focused on the 80 counties outside the seven‑county Twin Cities metropolitan area and provide a smaller update for the metro inventory.

Industry representatives supported the bill. Darren Lee of the Aggregate and Ready Mix Association told the committee that about two‑thirds of every cubic yard of concrete and roughly 90% of asphalt tonnage is aggregate and warned that local access reduces truck transport costs and CO2 emissions. Abby Bridal, executive director of the Minnesota Asphalt Pavement Association, urged support, saying the bill would strengthen local planning, reduce transportation distances and lower project costs and fuel consumption.

Committee members questioned language in section 3 that asks the DNR commissioner to consult stakeholders and return recommendations related to the permitting process. Senator Greene expressed concern that the language could eventually be used to restrict private land development; witnesses and the author clarified the provision asks for recommendations and does not itself impose permitting requirements. Questions also focused on funding: the bill follows the OLA task force’s recommendation for roughly $950,000 per year for 10 years (figure from the 2018 task force report, in 2018 dollars). DNR testimony (Heather Arens, mineral potential manager) said LCCMR funding has supported mapping at lower levels and that the task force’s recommended funding is larger than past appropriations.

Senator Johnson Stewart moved the A4 amendment and then moved the bill as amended; the committee voice‑voted to recommend passage and referred the bill to State and Local Government. The committee record shows a voice vote (aye/ opposed not recorded as roll call). The bill would return to the full legislature through the referral process.

Ending: The bill was recommended to State and Local Government, with sponsors and industry groups urging adoption. Several members asked for clearer statutory language around permitting and the bill author said she would work with stakeholders on clarifying amendments before the next committee.