HF 3926 Minnesota House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Transportation; various provisions modified, silencing of railroad crossing bells prohibited, rail service improvement program accounts modified, town roads and private roads provisions modified, authorization for maintenance of Piney-Pinecreek Border Airport in Roseau County removed, highway designations repealed for the Hiawatha Pioneer Trail, and technical corrections made.

This bill modifies several Minnesota transportation laws, including raising the cost threshold for major highway projects from $15 million to $30 million in metropolitan areas and from $5 million to $15 million in nonmetropolitan areas. It also prohibits the silencing of railroad crossing bells at any crossing with an active warning system and removes state authorization to maintain the Piney-Pinecreek Border Airport in Roseau County. Additionally, the bill repeals highway designations for the Hiawatha Pioneer Trail and makes technical corrections to existing transportation statutes.

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 5, 2026 Last action May 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction → 1st Engrossment · 5 edits · Mar 26, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was amended from its introduction to its first engrossment, updating the title to reflect new provisions regarding town and private roads. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a warning notice requirement for road authorities before repairing private roads, aiming to prevent unintended public dedication of private property. The bill also increased the cost thresholds for defining 'major highway projects' and updated the appeal bond amount for road condemnation cases.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include modifications related to town roads and private roads, which were not explicitly mentioned in the original introduction.

REQUIREMENT

Road authorities must now send a certified mail notice to private road owners before making repairs or conducting work, warning them that six years of public use and repair could dedicate the road to the public.

The required bond amount for appealing a condemnation award was increased from $250 to $1,500.

ELIGIBILITY

The cost threshold for a 'major highway project' in metropolitan districts was raised from $15 million to $30 million, and in nonmetropolitan districts from $5 million to $15 million.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'other means of access' was added to include cartways established under specific sections of the statutes.

TECHNICAL

The bill's title and summary were updated to include the new provisions regarding town roads and private roads.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

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Key actions

Committee

Mar 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee report, to adopt as amended

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Introduced

Introduction and first reading, referred to Transportation Finance and Policy

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors