Taxes committee advances transportation omnibus after debate over EV fee, transit cuts and Washington Avenue bridge funding

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota House Taxes Committee on Monday re‑referred House File 2,438, the transportation omnibus, to the Ways and Means Committee after public testimony and a contested amendment over funding for the Washington Avenue Bridge.

The omnibus includes tax and surcharge provisions that committee members and public witnesses said would change transportation funding across the state, including a proposed increase in the electric vehicle (EV) registration surcharge from $75 to $200, cuts to some transit funding, and a change to the timing of state greenhouse‑gas requirements. An amendment (A20) that would have shifted bridge funding to the Met Council’s active transportation fund failed on a roll call, 11 ayes to 12 nays with one member excused.

Why it matters: The bill bundles tax and transportation policy changes that supporters say are part of a negotiated statewide transportation package and opponents say would undercut transit, burden lower‑income EV drivers and delay climate protections. The Washington Avenue Bridge — a high‑use bicycle and pedestrian crossing near the University of Minnesota — drew separate debate over whether locally raised Hennepin County sales tax money should be used or whether regional Met Council funds are the appropriate source.

Chair and sponsor remarks

Representative Kosnick, who described the measure as the omnibus transportation bill, told the committee the package contains “a couple of provisions dealing with taxes or surcharge” and said two technical clarifications were intended to exclude construction materials and…