The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 161.045, to clarify the permissible uses of highway funds, specifically the highway user tax distribution fund and the trunk highway fund. It introduces new definitions for terms related to highway purposes, which now include construction, improvement, maintenance, and operations of highways, as well as multimodal infrastructure related to transit, active transportation, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Additionally, it specifies that trunk highway purposes encompass highway purposes for the trunk highway system.

The bill also outlines limitations on spending from these funds. It prohibits the use of highway user tax distribution funds or trunk highway funds for various programs and entities, including the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension laboratory, Explore Minnesota Tourism kiosks, and the installation of public electric vehicle infrastructure, among others. Notably, it removes references to the Minnesota Safety Council and driver education programs from the list of prohibited expenditures. The bill emphasizes that the prohibition extends to all expenses related to the named entities or programs, including payroll and supplies, and applies to any successor entities that are substantially similar.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 161.045