This bill revises the governance structure of the Metropolitan Council in Minnesota by abolishing the Transportation Advisory Board and altering the appointment process and membership of the Council. Key amendments include allowing the commission to monitor appointments and make recommendations to the appointing authority, as well as establishing a new membership structure that includes representatives from each county and local elected officials or citizen representatives from each Metropolitan Council district. The bill introduces staggered terms for members and provisions for their recall by appointing bodies. Additionally, it increases the number of districts from 16 to 33 to ensure equal population distribution and sets new voting authority and quorum requirements for the Council.

The bill also transitions to a new governance model effective January 1, 2028, specifically for the seven-county metropolitan area. It replaces the previous diverse membership requirement for the advisory body related to transportation planning with a technical advisory committee composed of professional staff from local governments and agencies. Furthermore, it repeals a section from the 1994 Minnesota Session Laws and establishes a new salary structure for the chair and members of the Metropolitan Council, with the chair earning $52,500 annually and other members receiving $20,000.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 3.8841, 473.123, 473.146