MRC is the voice of Minnesota's rural communities.
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Legislative Information
MRC 2023 End of Session Report
MRC 2023 Legislative Priorities
County Program Aid
- MRC supports increasing County Program Aid funds to address historic funding shortages, keep pace with inflationary costs, and recognize the impact of state mandates on county property tax levies.
Transportation Funding
- MRC supports long term, sustainable transportation funding with increases to dedicated Highway User Tax Distribution Fund (HUTDF) revenues such as the gas tax, vehicle registration fees, motor vehicle sales tax, and the sales tax on auto repair parts. Additionally, MRC supports a significant capital bonding bill with funding for transportation related programs including the Local Road Improvement Program, the Local Bridge Replacement Program, and the Local Road Wetland Replacement Program.
Rural Broadband Funding
- MRC supports adequate funding for broadband infrastructure development in rural counties. Further, MRC supports identifying and implementing actions to achieve by 2026 the goal of statewide deployment of advanced broadband networks and symmetrical high-speed capacity.
- MRC supports funding for both the Office of Broadband Development within the Department of Employment and Economic Development and continued funding for the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Fund.
Drainage Authority and Public Notice of Drainage Work
- MRC supports drainage law that ensures the ability of counties to maintain drainage systems.
- MRC supports counties adhering to the requirement for public notice of drainage work and hearings according to Minn. Stat. §103E and the Minnesota Drainage Manual. Any updates or modernization of these requirements should not add to count or system costs, or impact timely maintenance and system repairs.
Throughout the 2023 Legislative Session, MRC submitted or co-signed several letters regarding Legislative initiatives and their impact on Rural Counties.
- Governor Walz: In support of critical local control mechanisms included in the Senate cannabis legalization bill (SF 73).
- Support University of Minnesota/CentraCare establishing a Medical School in Central Minnesota.
- Chair Rest and Senate Tax Committee: Support simplifying the process by which local governments and non-profits receive the sales tax exemption on construction material purchases.
- House Property Tax Division: Support County Program Aid.
- Governor Walz and Legislative Leaders: Support appropriation for local government emergency management planning and preparedness activities and capital purchases.
- Transportation Conference Committee: Concerns regarding the proposed Transportation Greenhouse Gas Emissions Impact Assessment.
MRC- Lobbyist Lead
Britta Torkelson
507-381-7551
MRC- Lobbyist Support
Rob Vanasek
612-964-4876
Sam Walseth
612-280-9349