HF 3883 Minnesota House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Metropolitan Council program, contracts, and reporting requirements to the legislature modified; Metropolitan Council and regional development commission review city housing finance programs removed; and technical corrections made.

This bill clarifies water supply planning and reporting requirements for the Metropolitan Council in Minnesota by amending existing state statutes. It establishes two new advisory committees: a policy advisory committee with representatives from state agencies, local governments, and Tribal communities to guide regional water planning, and a technical advisory committee of engineering and scientific experts to provide specialized expertise. The policy committee will help develop a metropolitan water supply plan emphasizing conservation, cooperation, and sustainability, while the council must report its findings and recommendations to the legislature every five years. The bill also outlines specific planning activities the council must conduct, including water demand projections, sustainability analyses, and recommendations for funding and streamlining decision-making processes.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 2, 2026 Last action Apr 9, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 7 edits · Apr 9, 2026

MODERATE

This bill updates Minnesota's Metropolitan Council laws to modernize planning requirements, expand small business contracting preferences, and clarify funding distribution rules. Key changes include extending the review cycle for certain plans from biennial to decennial, adding Tribal governments as eligible entities for various housing and development funds, and adjusting thresholds for airport project reviews. The legislation also removes the requirement for Metropolitan Council review of certain city housing finance programs and updates the effective date of several sections to the day following final enactment.

Scope change

The bill's applicability is explicitly limited to the seven core metropolitan counties (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington) for most new provisions, while also explicitly including Tribal governments in the definition of 'development authority' for housing and development programs.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the review cycle for Metropolitan Council rules from every two years to every ten years (decennial), reducing the frequency of mandatory reviews.

Increased the threshold for Metropolitan Council review of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport capital projects from $5 million to $2 million.

Removed the requirement for the Metropolitan Council to review certain city housing finance programs, streamlining the approval process for local housing initiatives.

Replaced the specific 'December 31, 1990' date in comprehensive plan requirements with a reference to the planning year identified in the current Metropolitan Development Guide.

ELIGIBILITY

Added Tribal governments and Tribal development entities as eligible recipients for funds and development authorities in various housing and community programs.

TIMELINE

Updated the deadline for submitting Metropolitan Council reports to the legislature from January 15 to a flexible timeline ending in years with the numeral '5'.

DEFINITION

Changed the definition of 'eligible municipality' in the livable communities program to include entities that have elected to participate or elected to not participate, clarifying eligibility status.

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Committee

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt as amended

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Introduced

Introduction and first reading, referred to Elections Finance and Government Operations

lower

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor