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2025 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES <br />The League of Minnesota Cities promotes excellence in local government through <br />effective advocacy, expert analysis, and trusted guidance for all Minnesota cities.©2025 League of Minnesota Cities. All Rights Reserved.LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES <br />League of <br />Minnesota Cities <br />MinnesotaCities <br />Minnesota_Cities <br />MinnesotaCities <br />#MnCities <br />Transportation Funding <br />We support dedicating more resources to all components <br />of the transportation system and call for funding and tools <br />to help cities meet growing transportation needs. <br />Water and Wastewater Infrastructure <br />and Policy <br />We support state-provided technical and financial resources <br />for municipal drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater <br />systems. <br />Adult-Use Cannabis <br />Legislation should address cities’ needs in implementing <br />the cannabis industry, including providing adequate <br />funding via the Local Government Cannabis Aid Fund. We <br />support increased local discretion and decision-making. <br />Bonding <br />We support a substantial bonding bill that includes <br />funding for water and wastewater infrastructure, local <br />roads and bridges, housing, the local road wetland <br />replacement fund, flood mitigation, and dam repair and <br />removal. <br />Elections <br />Legislation should address the needs and <br />recommendations of cities and election administrators. <br />We support ongoing and sufficient funding for election <br />administration. <br />Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) <br />We support state funding to help cities endure the costs <br />of preparing for, and responding to, catastrophic urban <br />forest problems, including EAB. <br />Emergency Medical Services (EMS) <br />We support the work of the EMS Delivery and <br />Sustainability Task Force and will engage in the work of <br />the newly-established Minnesota Office of EMS. We also <br />support funding and policies that recognize different EMS <br />models and support EMS statewide. <br />Employment Relations <br />We support defining public employees as those with a <br />formal employer-employee relationship. We also support <br />a balanced approach that empowers public employers <br />to provide more generous paid leave benefits while <br />minimizing legal mandates. <br />Housing <br />We support state-local partnerships that provide policies <br />and resources to address local housing needs, while <br />preserving local authority over zoning and land use <br />decisions. We encourage lawmakers to focus on policies <br />tailored to each community’s unique needs. <br />Local Decision Making <br />We oppose legislation that erodes or eliminates local <br />decision making authority for cities to make the decisions <br />that best suit their individual communities. <br />Local Government Aid (LGA) <br />We support increasing LGA to reduce pressure on the <br />property tax and equalize property tax bases. We also <br />support indexing LGA to inflation so that aid to cities <br />keeps pace with rising costs. <br />Local Sales Taxes <br />We support a change in law to allow cities to propose a <br />local sales tax for capital project costs to its voters without <br />requiring a special law authorization. <br />Public Safety Duty Disability <br />We support ongoing state funding to support injury <br />prevention, treatment, and reimbursement for employers. <br />We oppose expanding the definition of eligible work- <br />related conditions for workers’ compensation purposes. <br />Sales Tax Exemption on Construction <br />Materials <br />We support legislation to streamline the process for <br />cities to secure the sales tax exemption on construction <br />materials.