Bill > HF1167

This bill prohibits the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Council from spending any money on the Northern Lights Express passenger rail project, which is a proposed high-speed rail line connecting Minneapolis and Duluth. Specifically, the bill bars expenditures for studying, planning, engineering, design, land acquisition, or construction of the project, including grants to other entities or the use of federal funds. Additionally, the bill cancels an appropriation of approximately $194.4 million that was previously allocated to the project in the fiscal year 2024 budget, returning these funds to the general fund. The commissioner of transportation is then required to transfer an equivalent amount from the general fund to the trunk highway fund in fiscal year 2025. The bill's provisions apply immediately after its enactment, with the Metropolitan Council restrictions specifically applying to seven counties in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. The overall effect is to completely halt all current and future work on the Northern Lights Express rail project.

Budget and Finance, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=House&f=HF1167&ssn=0&y=2025