News

The 2026 legislative session has reached its midpoint. Committee deadlines to introduce and hear bills passed on Friday, March 27. The picture of what’s moving—and what isn’t—is coming into focus.

Our Streets’ advocacy and collaboration with committee leaders led to the Transportation Committee’s introduction of an author’s amendment, carried by Senator Hemmingsen-Jaeger (DFL, 47).  The amendment improves upon the strong regulatory framework led by Senator Dibble, Senator McEwen, and Senator Maye Quade and achieves several important goals.

Read our formal public comment sent to the Minnesota Department of Transportation on the Rethinking I-94 Scoping Document and Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EAW).

There is continuous development on Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) at the legislature. Four bills were heard in the Senate, including a regulatory framework introduced by Senator Dibble. Additionally, several agency bills were heard and various technical changes and small provisions related to State Patrol and Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) were heard in the House.

Our Streets is seeking an artist for the 2026 Open Streets Minneapolis™ design. This design will be utilized on the poster, t-shirts, and other promotional materials. The chosen artist will be compensated a flat fee of $600.

This week, the Fix-It-First bill was introduced and a conversation around suburban transit “opt-out” services consolidating in the Twin Cities metro area also took place in the House Transportation Committee. In the Senate, a bill to allow trunk highway dollars to be spent to support local governments to relocate utilities may set the stage for further highway purposes conversation in 2027. Additionally, we hosted Our Streets Day on the Hill, where supporters came to the Capitol with us to advocate for people-first transportation.

Failing to address this problem and prioritize fiscal responsibility means our maintenance backlog grows, costs and wasteful spending escalate, and Minnesotans pay the price — in higher taxes and household costs, worse quality and less safe roads, fewer affordable multi-modal options, and eroded trust in how the state manages its money.

There was a lot of activity in the Minnesota House this week. Successfully opposing HF3513, a bill led by Waymo and its corporate lawyers that devises a regulatory framework in the company’s image and interests, was the win of the week for people-first transportation.

Minnesota’s most vulnerable, marginalized communities are targets of federal action. This has ultimately jeopardized neighbors’ fundamental freedom to move safely—stripping access to family and friends, jobs, school, and daily needs. Communities impacted by transportation projects deserve full consideration of their goals and concerns and actionable input in project decision-making. Today, because of our current crisis that is impossible.

At the start of Minnesota’s legislative session, transportation continues to highlight issues around pedestrian safety, a confirmation hearing for the Metropolitan Council Chair, and two bills introduced by the Minnesota Department of Transportation.