Kayla's HOPE Act establishment

This bill requires Minnesota's Department of Transportation to study and implement suicide prevention barriers (like nets or physical structures) for new bridge construction and major reconstructions. It mandates a study by January 2026 to identify high-risk bridges, evaluate barrier options, assess costs, and develop implementation criteria, with input from health, safety, and nonprofit organizations. The department must begin requiring these barriers in bridge projects starting January 2026, report annually on progress, and has $750,000 allocated for study and planning in fiscal year 2026. The policy directly affects all major bridge projects managed by the state transportation department.