Legislative Update

The 2024 Minnesota Legislative Session ended in the late hours on Sunday, May 19th.  Below is a list of bills introduced and that received action specific to the City of Ramsey.  Throughout the session, components of the below bills moved forward and were incorporated into larger bills containing similar provisions for other entities.  For example, our bill language related to TIF District 14 was incorporated into a larger Omnibus Tax Bill.  At the close of the session, the City received approval for two items.  First was the request to allow 2023 awarded bonding dollars towards the Water Treatment Plant to be eligible for use towards the trunk watermain project associated with the Water Treatment Plant.  Second was $3,750,000 of grant funding until June 30, 2028 for the construction of a pedestrian bridge over highway 10.  Many other laws were approved that will impact city operations.  For up-to-date analysis on the impact, the League of Minnesota Cities typically releases summary articles depicting what cities will be required to do.  This information can be found at LMC.org.

SF4371/HF4340 City of Ramsey special tax increment financing authority modifications
This bill amends past special legislation related to TIF District 14.  The language clarifies that the city would be exempt from interfund loan requirements for projects that are identified in the original 2010 Legislation.  These projects include the city's share of the costs necessary to provide for the construction of the Northstar Transit Station and related infrastructure, including structured parking, a pedestrian overpass, and roadway improvements, (2) the cost of land acquired by the city or the housing and development authority in and for the city of Ramsey within the district prior to the establishment of the district, and (3) the cost of public improvements installed within the tax increment financing district prior to the establishment of the district.

• Staff testified in front of the House Property Tax Division on April 3, 2024.  The bill will be considered as part of the Omnibus Tax Bill.
• Staff testified in front of the Senate Tax Division on April 17, 2024.  This bill will be considered as part of the Ominbus Tax Bill.
  • Following concerns expressed by both the House and the Senate about exempting all interfund loan requirements, staff supported an amendment to the original bill that would require the City to adopt interfund loans to repay previous expenses by December 31, 2024.
• As of May 6th, provisions of this request are included in the Omnibus Tax Bill SF5234/HF5247.
• At the close of the session, no approval was granted.

SF4795/HF4869 Ramsey sales and use tax exemption for certain construction materials modification
This bill amends 2023 approval related to the Water Treatment Plant project.  In 2023, language only included the Water Treatment Plant and not the trunk watermain improvements.

• Staff testified in front of the Senate Tax Committee on March 19, 2024.  The bill will be considered as part of the Ominbus Tax Bill.
• This language is in the Senate's version of the Omnibus Tax Bill SF5234.
• At the close of the session, no approval was granted.

SF5214/HF5153 City of Ramsey clean water infrastructure bond issuance and appropriation
This bill requests $6.8 million in state bonding appropriations for the Water Treatment Plant and Trunk Watermain improvements.

• This bill has been introduced, but has not received any committee hearings.
• At the close of the session, no approval was granted.

SF4307/HF3631 Miscellaneous capital projects apparitions modifications
This bill incorporates a language amendment to mirror our request in 2023 to allow state bonding dollars to be eligible for both the Water Treatment Plant and necessary Trunk Watermain Improvements.

• Staff testified in front of the Senate Capital Investment Committee on March 12, 2024.
• Both the Senate and the House have passed the bill.
• This request was awarded as part of HF3631.

SF5046/HF5031 City of Ramsey pedestrian overpass over Highway 10 and Highway 169 bond issuance and appropriation
This bill requests state bonding appropriation to construct a pedestrian overpass over Highway 10.  An amount was not initially identified. However, the request will be for 50% of the project cost.  The current project cost estimate is $7.5 million.  Staff will work with legislatures to solidify the requested amount.

• Staff testified in front of the House Capital Investment Committee on April 3, 2024.  This bill will be considered as part of the Omnibus Capital Investment Bill.
• Staff testified in front of the House Transportation Committee on April 18, 2024.  An amount of $3,750,000 appropriation is now included in HF5242 Transportation Supplemental Budget Bill.
• This amount was awarded as part of HF5247.