SF 18 A

As introduced: - Establishes the transportation budget within the state and appropriates funds from the trunk highway fund and other funds. - Appropriates funds to the Department of Transportation for various programs and projects throughout the state. - Appropriates funs for state roads operations and maintenance. - Appropriates funds to the Metropolitan Council for transit system operations and special transportation services. - Transfers $2,655,000 in the 2026 fiscal year and $2,784,000 in the 2027 fiscal year from the general fund to the active transportation account for transportation and infrastructure related projects, including bridge repair. - Modifies the surcharge on electric vehicles, to shift to surcharge calculation based on the manufacturer’s suggested retail price with a declining rate. - Sets a minimum flat amount that begins at $150 and then adjusts to $100 on and after July 1, 2027. - Establishes a surcharge on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, calculated based on the manufacturer’s suggested retail price with a declining rate. - Sets a minimum flat amount that starts at $75 and then adjusts to $50 on and after July 1, 2027. - Establishes that a person may not act as a public charging station operator without having been licensed by the commissioner as a public charging station operator. - Imposes a tax on all public charging station operators for electricity sold as vehicle fuel at a public charging station at a rate of five cents per kilowatt hour of electricity. - Requires the DOT to conduct research on the use of automation and robotics for mowing and vegetation management at property owned by the DOT.