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Senate hears next installment request to continue Minnesota’s lead service line removals; committee adopts reporting amendment
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Summary
Senate File 41‑22 seeks the next installment to continue Minnesota’s statewide lead service line replacement program and clarify program structure as federal funds wane; committee adopted an A1 amendment and an A3 reporting amendment and laid the bill over.
Senator Sam McEwen asked the Senate Capital Investment Committee on April 23 to approve the next installment of funding under Senate File 41‑22 to continue Minnesota's statewide lead service line replacement program.
"There is no safe amount of lead for humans to consume," James Lehner of Conservation Minnesota told the committee in support of the bill, citing state mapping and the Legislature's 10‑year goal launched in 2023. Raquel Vaske, general manager for St. Paul Regional Water Services, testified the program could be delivered by 2032 with adequate funding and estimated that Minnesota needs about $23 million per year to meet an accelerated timeline that precedes the EPA deadline of 2037.
Senator McEwen said the program has made progress since 2023 but needs further investment to maintain contractor capacity and workforce, and to avoid higher future costs if funding lapses. Chad Kolstad of the Public Facilities Authority told the committee the state and federal mix to date has created one of the nation’s stronger service line replacement programs, but that the state will need consistent funding through 2027 and beyond to avoid contractor attrition.
The committee considered several amendments. Senator Rasmussen offered and the committee adopted an A3 amendment requiring MMB to report back to chairs and ranking members on status of appropriation bonds authorized in the section, including amounts outstanding and maturity dates. Senator McEwen moved and the committee adopted an author's A1 amendment to change funding language to an appropriation‑bond funding path for the next installment. A2, a Johnson Stewart amendment intended to preserve program structure as federal funds decline, was discussed and ultimately laid over to allow more time for deliberation.
Testimony from local mayors and labor leaders emphasized equity and program continuity. Mayor Scott Sherman of Winona told the committee his city has identified more than 2,500 service lines needing replacement and estimated about $25,000 per service line in his municipality. John Thorsen of the labor union emphasized that sustained state investment keeps contractors and trained crews working locally.
The committee laid SF 41‑22 and its amendments over for further consideration.
