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County staff brief commissioners on property-tax, 911 and pipeline bills as mid-session deadlines approach
Summary
The county’s legislative liaison summarized bills affecting county revenue and operations, noting Senate Bill 37 (911 surcharge repeal of sunset) passed the House, and property-tax bills — Senate Bill 216, Senate Bill 191 and House Bill 1235 — were pending committee action ahead of mid-March deadlines.
Meredith Jerko, commission office legislative liaison, updated the Minnehaha County Commission on March 4 about active bills and upcoming session deadlines.
Lede: Jerko said Senate Bill 37, which extends a 911 surcharge increase by repealing its sunset provision, had passed the House and would go to the governor for signature; she also previewed three property-tax bills (Senate Bill 216, Senate Bill 191 and House Bill 1235) scheduled for committee hearings as the legislature moves toward crossover-day deadlines.
Nut graf: The legislative agenda has several items that could affect county revenue or statutory obligations — 911-surcharge funding for Metro Communications, limits on valuation or levy growth that would change local tax calculations, and a pipeline eminent-domain prohibition still moving in one chamber — so county staff are tracking hearings and potential amendments.
Body: Jerko summarized deadlines: March 6 is the last day to move committee-transmitted bills to the second house; March 10 is the last day for bills to pass both houses (with committee and conference processes that can continue); March 31 is reserved for gubernatorial vetoes. She said SB 37 had passed the House (69–0, one excused) and would go to the governor.
On property-tax legislation, Jerko said SB 216 (the governor’s proposal) was scheduled for a March 5 committee hearing and had not yet been amended to address taxing-district concerns; SB 191 (limits on annual valuation increases for owner-occupied single-family dwellings) had a committee hearing scheduled the same day. She also noted HB 1235, another bill to reduce levy-increase limits, remained in referral and had not yet been scheduled.
Jerko said House Bill 1052, which would prohibit the use of eminent domain for a pipeline that carries carbon dioxide, remained active and had passed a Senate committee; she also briefed commissioners on the paused state prison project, where a gubernatorial task force and potential special session were expected to follow.
Commission commentary: Commissioners discussed the complexity of tax bills and emphasized that changes to assessment or levy rules shift tax burdens across property classes. Staff noted assessors plan to testify on valuation bills and offered to assist county officials who want to testify or submit materials.
Ending: Jerko said staff will continue to monitor the schedule, prepare testimony as needed and provide a post-session report after March 31 if vetoes or conference committees affect final outcomes.
