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HF 3169

Bridge-related suicide data collection required, best practices development required for suicide prevention on bridges, and implementation of suicide reduction railings on bridge projects identified as appropriate and feasible.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Rick Hansen and 5 co-sponsors

Kayla’s HOPE Act requires data on bridge suicides, creates best-practices for prevention, and mandates suicide-reduction railings on eligible MnDOT and local bridge projects.

HF indefinitely postponed
#death #highways #roads #andbridges #transportationandtransportationdepartment
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Bill Summary · HF 3169

Summary of HF3169 (Minnesota) — 2025-2026 Session

Title and Purpose

HF3169, known as the “Kayla's HOPE Act,” proposes a structured approach to prevent suicides on bridges in Minnesota. The bill requires data collection on bridge-related suicides, the development of best practices for suicide prevention on bridges, and the implementation of suicide reduction railings on bridge projects identified as appropriate and feasible.

Main Goals

  • Improve identification of bridges with suicide risk.
  • Establish evidence-based practices to prevent suicides on bridges.
  • Mandate deployment of suicide-reduction railings on applicable bridge projects.

Key Provisions

1) Data Collection (Subd. 1)

  • The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), in collaboration with the Department of Health, must identify bridges in Minnesota with a history of suicide-related deaths.
  • MnDOT must:
    • Annually request and receive data from the Department of Health on known suicide deaths from bridges, using the state’s vital statistics records.
    • Maintain a record of this data to help identify which bridges may need suicide reduction measures.

2) Best Practices Development (Subd. 2)

  • MnDOT, in collaboration with the Department of Health, must develop a methodology for determining when and where suicide reduction measures should be incorporated into bridge projects.
  • Responsibilities include:
    • Developing best practices for deciding when suicide reduction measures should be considered on a project.
    • Identifying potential suicide reduction measures and creating best practices for their appropriate and feasible use.
    • Developing design criteria for suicide reduction railings.

3) Railing Implementation (Subd. 3)

  • Suicide reduction railings must be implemented when determined appropriate and feasible by the methodology developed in Subd. 2.
  • This requirement applies to:
    • Bridge projects undertaken by MnDOT.
    • Local road authorities for project work that includes railing replacement, alteration, or addition, in line with the design criteria established in Subd. 2, Subd. 2(3).

4) Short Title and Effective Date (Subd. 4)

  • The act is titled the “Kayla’s HOPE Act.”
  • Effective date: The section becomes effective the day after final enactment.

Affected Parties

  • Primary: MnDOT and, for applicable projects, local road authorities.
  • Collaborating agencies: Minnesota Department of Health.
  • Potentially affected populations: Bridge users and communities at risk of suicide-related deaths on bridges.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Data collection and best-practices development are ongoing responsibilities, with annual data requests and maintained records.
  • Railings are to be implemented on projects when the assessment determines it appropriate and feasible, following the criteria developed under the bill.
  • Effective date is the day after final enactment, implying rapid commencement for data collection and planning, with implementation contingent on project scope and feasibility.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Improves accountability and data-driven decision-making for suicide prevention on infrastructure.
  • Establishes standardized design criteria for safety enhancements on bridges.
  • May require funding, design changes, and coordination between state and local agencies for railing installations.
  • Could lead to increased safety on bridges and potentially save lives by reducing suicide attempts at high-risk sites.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with related bills or convert this into a briefing for a legislative audience.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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