Senate Bill Introductions
SF 3535 (Port): Revising the PACE program to allow for projects to move forward under PACE even if it does not meet certain cost-effective requirements but provides other benefits. Companion HF 3946.
Status: Introduced 2/12/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate. Set for hearing 3/6/24. Amended and recommended to pass; sent to Senate floor. Second reading 3/11/24. Also placed into Senate Omnibus Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Supplemental Appropriations Bill SF 4942.
SF 3682 (McEwen): Within 30 days after a site or route permit has been issued for a project under chapter 216E (electric generation facilities, transmission), all state agencies must make any final decisions on any other pending permits for that project. Companion Bill HF 3457.
Status: Introduced 2/15/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate. Set for hearing 3/11/24. Hearing rescheduled to later date. Placed into SF 4784 (permit reform bill), and also placed into Senate Omnibus Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Supplemental Appropriations Bill SF 4942.
SF 3683 (McEwen): Requiring utilities to study transmission congestion in Minnesota, identify the frequency of congestion in certain areas, analyze grid enhancing technology (GETS) that could alleviate the congestion, and propose a plan for installing GETS at each congestion point. Companion Bill HF 3704.
Status: Introduced 2/15/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate.
SF 3637 (Marty): Require the Department of Commerce Division of Energy Resources to develop a detailed plan to move the state to all renewable energy by 2040.
Status: Introduced 2/15/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate.
SF 3949 (McEwen): Requiring high-voltage transmission lines to be sited in certain priority areas; requiring utilities to pay for any relocation of transmission lines. Companion HF 3900.
Status: Introduced 2/19/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate. Set for hearing 3/4/24. Amended and recommended to pass; re-referred to Transportation 3/4/24. Set for hearing 3/18/24. Laid over for omnibus bill 3/18/24. Placed into Omnibus Transportation Bill SF 5284.
SF 3959 (Marty): Limiting rate recovery for IOUs’ CEO salaries. Companion HF 4851.
Status: Introduced 2/19/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate.
SF 4062 (Koran): Prohibiting any entity that receives state funding from making campaign contributions or expending money or any political purpose (lobbying). Companion HF 3647.
Status; Introduced 2/22/24; referred to Elections.
SF 4078 (Lucero): Requiring a product stewardship program for wind and solar component reclamation and recycling. Companion HF 703.
Status: Introduced 2/22/24; referred to Environment, Climate and Legacy.
SF 4108 (Hauschild): Establishing the Minnesota Advisory Council on Infrastructure and funding it; to coordinate infrastructure planning, funding, and maintenance, particularly as it pertains to climate policy, economic development and energy. Companion HF 4025.
Status: Introduced 2/22/24; referred to Labor. Withdrawn and re-referred to State and Local Government and Veterans 2/26/24. Set for hearing 3/14/24. No action taken, discussion only 3/14/24. Set for hearing 3/26/24. Laid over for omnibus bill inclusion 3/26/24.
SF 4132 (Mitchell): Increasing civil penalties for non-compliance with state open meetings laws; requiring specific documentation if the entity is to close a meeting for attorney-client privilege reasons. Companion HF 4136.
Status: Introduced 2/22/24; referred to State and Local Government and Veterans. Set for hearing 3/19/24. Laid over 3/22/24.
SF 4159 (Port): Requiring all utilities (electric, water, etc.) to accept an individual taxpayer ID number in lieu of an SSN for applications for new service. Companion HF 4155.
Status: Introduced 2/22/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate. Set for hearing 3/6/24. Recommended to pass and re-referred to Housing and Homelessness Prevention. Referred to Senate floor 3/11/24; second reading. Placed into Senate Omnibus Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Supplemental Appropriations Bill SF 4942.
SF 4167 (Xiong): Requiring the MPCA to formulate a methodology to calculate the GHG emissions of various stages of sourcing, producing and shipping of retail industry products. Companion HF 4189.
Status: Introduced 2/26/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate.
SF 4295 (McEwen): Creation and funding of the MPCA local climate planning and action hub. Companion Bill HF 4240.
Status: Introduced 2/26/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate.
SF 4297 (Mitchell): Establishing a public comment period for certain meetings; allowing comment by internet platform. Companion HF 4120.
Status: Introduced 2/26/24; referred to State and Local Government. Set for hearing 3/19/24. Laid over for omnibus bill inclusion 3/19/24.
SF 4298 (Mitchell): Requiring electric vehicle charging stations in all new residential buildings with designated parking. Companion Bill HF 3439.
Status: Introduced 2/26/24; referred to Labor. Set for hearing 3/12/24. Not heard; continued to later date. Set for hearing 3/21/24. Committee recommends to pass; referred to State and Local Government and Veterans 3/21/24. Placed into Labor Supplemental Budget Omnibus bill HF 5266.
SF 4361 (Morrison): Subjecting electric cooperatives to open meeting and public records laws. Companion HF 3895.
Status: Introduced 2/29/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate.
SF 4373 (Lucero): Requiring that utilities get consent from customers before installing smart meters. Companion HF 4812.
Status: Introduced 2/29/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate. Set for hearing 3/18/24. Laid over 3/18/24.
SF 4379 (Fateh): Requiring additional physical measurements of air emissions and reporting of the measurements. Companion HF 3579.
Status: Introduced 2/29/24; referred to Environment, Climate and Legacy.
SF 4426 (Marty): Prohibiting IOUs from recovering lobbying expenses from ratepayers. Companion HF 4292.
Status: Introduced 2/29/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate.
SF 4428 (Mitchell): State Public Utilities Commission added to the list of agencies which are subject to certain obligations to Tribal governments. Companion HF 4354.
Status: Introduced 2/29/24; referred to State and Local Government and Veterans. Laid over for possible omnibus bill 3/12/24. Placed into Senate Omnibus Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Supplemental Appropriations Bill SF 4942.
SF 4433 (Hawi): Requiring reimbursement to the MPCA for any negotiated agreement to settle violations. Companion HF 4410.
Status: Introduced 2/29/24; referred to Environment, Climate and Legacy. Set for hearing 3/12/14. Referred to Judiciary and Public Safety. Set for hearing 3/27/24. Committee reports to pass; re-referred to Environment, Climate and Legacy 3/27/24. Referred to Rules and Administration 4/2/24. Placed into Environment, Climate, and Legacy Omnibus Budget Bill, SF 3887.
SF 4456 (Mann): Allowing advisory public bodies to meet by interactive technology if certain conditions are followed. Companion HF 4413.
Status: Introduced 2/29/24; referred to State and Local Government and Veterans.
SF 4498 (Dahms): Exempting some municipal construction materials from state sales and use taxes. Companion Bill HF 2576.
Status: Introduced 3/4/24; referred to Taxes.
SF 4535 (Wesenberg): Clarifying access to easements by governmental units; limiting landowner restrictions.
Status: Introduced 3/4/24; referred to Judiciary and Public Safety.
SF 4536 (Wesenberg): Requiring governmental notice to landowner prior to accessing easements.
Status: Introduced 3/4/24; referred to Judiciary and Public Safety.
SF 4562 (Rarick): Updates to the ECO law to provide for efficient fuel switching. Companion HF 4574.
Status: Introduced 3/4/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate. Set for hearing 3/20/24. Laid over 3/20/24. Placed into Senate Omnibus Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Supplemental Appropriations Bill SF 4942.
SF 4579 (Dibble): A bill to push single-metering in residential buildings for electricity, water, and other services. Companion HF 4558.
Status: introduced 3/4/24; referred Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate. Heard in committee 3/6/24; tabled for further hearing. Set for hearing 3/13/24. Amended and recommended Do Pass; referred to Judiciary and Public Safety 3/13/24. Set for hearing 3/22/24. Amended and recommended to pass 3/22/24. Second reading 4/2/24. Passed Senate (44-19) 4/11/24; referred to House. Comparison with companion HF 4558 pending on House floor. Placed on House floor calendar 4/24/24. Passed House as amended (82-44) 4/24/24.
SF 4686 (McEwen): Establishing and funding a geothermal heat exchange rebate program. Companion HF 4689.
Status: Introduced 3/7/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate. Set for hearing 3/27/24. Set for hearing 3/27/24. Laid over for possible omnibus bill 3/27/24. Placed into Senate Omnibus Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Supplemental Appropriations Bill SF 4942.
SF 4687 (McEwen): Creating a utility thermal network deployment work group. Companion HF 4688.
Status: Introduced 3/7/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate. Set for hearing 3/20/24. Laid over as amended 3/20/24. Placed into Senate Omnibus Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Supplemental Appropriations Bill SF 4942.
SF 4711 (Morrison): Stewardship and recycling for batteries. Companion HF 4721.
Status: Referred to Environment, Climate and Legacy.
SF 4760 (Mitchell): Pilot project authorized and funded for thermal energy network projects. Companion HF 4423.
Status: Introduced 3/7/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate. Set for hearing 3/20/24. Laid over as amended 3/20/24. Placed into Senate Omnibus Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Supplemental Appropriations Bill SF 4942.
SF 4784 (Frentz): Minnesota Energy Infrastructure Permitting Act—revising generation and transmission permitting in the state. Companion HF 4700.
Status: Introduced 3/7/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate. Set for hearing 3/11/24. Committee hearing canceled; re-set for 3/13/24. Re-referred to Environment, Climate and Legacy; set for hearing 3/14/23. Removed from Environment, Climate and Legacy; referred to State and Local Government. Set for hearing 3/19/24. Recommended Do Pass; referred to Environment, Climate and Legacy 3/19/24. Set for hearing 3/21/24. Referred to Finance 3/21/24. Committee reports To Pass 4/9/24. Second reading on Senate floor 4/11/24. Passed Senate (35-32) 4/18/24; referred to House.
SF 4794 (Dibble): Using Xcel’s renewable energy development fund to fund MRETS (Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System). Companion HF 4709.
Status: Introduced 3/11/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate. Laid over 3/13/24.
SF 4802 (Rest): Creating a carbon emission assessment (tax) on coal-fired generation and natural gas-fired generation used in the state of Minnesota by MN electric energy users. Companion Bill HF 4953.
Status: Introduced 3/11/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate.
SF 4822 (Limmer): Defining “correspondence” for the purposes of retention under the government record retention law; requiring 3 year retention period. Companion HF 4836.
Status: Introduced 3/11/24; referred to Judiciary and Public Safety.
SF 4824 (Kreun): Modifying definitions of local government actions under state lobbying laws.
Status: Introduced 3/11/24; referred to Elections.
SF 4846 (Xiong): Creating a mental health advisory task force to study the effects of climate change on mental health. Companion HF 4821.
Status: Introduced 3/11/24; referred to Health and Human Services.
SF 4849: (Port): Establishing a grant program for political subdivisions to study geothermal energy systems. Companion HF 4759.
Status: Introduced 3/11/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate. Set for hearing 3/27/24. Laid over for possible omnibus bill 3/27/24. Placed into Senate Omnibus Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Supplemental Appropriations Bill SF 4942.
SF 4863 (Rest): Revising the ongoing grant program under the Renewable Development Account. Companion HF 5016.
Status: Introduced 3/11/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate. Set for hearing 3/27/24. Laid over for possible omnibus bill 3/27/24. Placed into Senate Omnibus Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Supplemental Appropriations Bill SF 4942.
SF 4874 (Wiklund): Requiring cyber incident reporting by local governmental entities. Companion HF 4749.
Status: Introduced 3/13/24; referred to State and Local Government and Veterans. Committee reports To Pass 4/5/24; referred to Judiciary and Public Safety.
SF 4900 (Lucero): Allowing customers to decline installation of AMI. Companion Bill HF 5149.
Status: Introduced 3/13/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate.
SF 4904 (Limmer): Applying the penalties under the Government Data Practices Act to violations of the Official Records Act. Companion HF 4835.
Status: Introduced 3/13/24; referred to Judiciary and Public Safety.
SF 4910 (McEwen): Funding a study of climate change adaptation costs. Companion HF 4684.
Status: Introduced 3/13/24; referred to Environment, Climate and Energy. Set for hearing 4/2/24. Laid over 4/4/24.
SF 4942 (Frentz): Amended to become Senate Omnibus Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Supplemental Appropriations Bill.
Status: : Introduced 3/13/24; referred to State and Local Government and Veterans. Companion Bill HF 4975. Heard and passed by committee 4/17/24; referred to Finance. Finance committee amended and recommended to pass 4/19/24.
SF 4943 (Frentz): Making technical and housekeeping changes to Department of Commerce provisions. Companion HF 4177.
Status: Introduced 3/13/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate. Set for hearing 3/18/24. Laid over 3/18/24. Placed into Senate Omnibus Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate Supplemental Appropriations Bill SF 4942.
SF 4949 (Westlin): Updating data storage requirements for public records. Companion HF 4647.
Status: Introduced 3/13/24; referred to Judiciary and Public Safety. Set for hearing 3/20/24. Pulled from hearing list.
SF 4969 (McEwen): Grant program for the electrification of lawn and snow removal equipment for schools and public entities. Companion Bill HF 5056.
Status: Introduced 3/14/24; Environment, Climate and Legacy. Laid over 4/9/24.
SF 5033 (Green): Exempting cooperatives from the RES and CFS. Companion Bill HF 5060.
Status: Introduced 3/18/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate.
SF 5060 (Marty): Prohibiting state agencies from issuing permits for carbon pipelines.
Status: Introduced 3/18/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate.
SF 5268 (Carlson): Road usage charge for all electric vehicles. Companion Bill HF 4889.
Status: Introduced 4/2/24; referred to Transportation.
SF 5271 (Port): Establishing an incentive program to residential solar permitting apps for cities. Companion Bill HF 5171.
Status: Introduced 4/2/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate. Set for hearing 4/15/24.
SF 5310 (Howe): Modifying the surcharge for electric vehicles. Companion Bill HF 5265.
Status: Introduced 4/4/24; referred to Transportation.
SF 5395 (Xiong): Requiring the MPUC to open a docket on allocating the cost of adding distribution hosting capacity for distributed generation. Companion Bill HF 5097.
Status: Introduced 4/9/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate.
SF 5448 (Kunesh): Revising current law on shared-metered utility service in residential buildings; regulating the billing thereof.
Status: Introduced 4/18/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate.
SF 5495 (Mathews): Requiring Xcel Energy’s next IRP to include a plan to decommission and repurpose the Sherburne coal-fired generation plant. See Companion HF 5440.
Status: Introduced 4/30/24; referred to Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate.