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HF 3352

Public debt to be incurred for public information technology systems, licenses, and infrastructure provided; and constitutional amendment proposed.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Rick Hansen and 3 co-sponsors

Amend the Minnesota Constitution to authorize state debt issuance to fund public IT systems, licenses, and infrastructure.

Author added Reyer
#constitutionalamendments #governmentaloperations-state #telecommunicationsandinformationtechnology
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Bill Summary · HF 3352

Summary of HF 3352 (2025-2026) – Minnesota

Purpose and intent

HF 3352 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the state of Minnesota to issue bonds and incur public debt specifically to pay for public information technology (IT) systems, licenses, and related infrastructure. If adopted, the amendment would add a new purpose for public debt under Article XI, Section 5 of the Minnesota Constitution, enabling the state to finance digital and technology-related capital needs alongside existing debt purposes.

Key provisions

  • Constitutional amendment text (Sec. 1):

    • Adds a new debt purpose: “to pay capital costs of design, acquisition, installation, construction, equipping, and servicing public information technology systems, licenses, and infrastructure” (current section references item (j)).
    • Keeps existing debt purposes intact, including provisions for land/buildings, public improvements, repelling invasions, refunding bonds, highways, forest resources, airports/navigation facilities, agricultural credit, rail facilities, and other authorized uses.
    • As with other debt authorities, political subdivisions may engage in related works and contract debt as allowed by law.

  • Submission to voters (Sec. 2):

    • If enacted, the proposed amendment would be submitted to Minnesota voters at the 2026 general election.
    • Ballot question language:
    • “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to permit the state to issue bonds and incur public debt to pay for public information technology systems, licenses, and infrastructure?”
    • Voter options: Yes / No

Who/what would be affected

  • State government: Enables the state to finance IT-related capital projects through public debt, expanding the range of eligible uses for constitutional debt authority.
  • Public IT projects: Potential funding for design, acquisition, installation, construction, equipment, and ongoing servicing of IT systems, licenses, and infrastructure.
  • Political subdivisions: May participate in debt-financed projects and related works consistent with existing constitutional and statutory authorities.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Introduced and referred to the Committee on State Government Finance and Policy (as of first reading on 02/17/2026).
  • Action history: Several authors and co-sponsors added (Johnson, P.; Reyer; Hansen; Lee; Johnson; Reyer; with Reyn added later).
  • Voter consideration: Requires approval by Minnesota voters in the 2026 general election to amend the state constitution.

Practical considerations and potential impact

  • Fiscal flexibility: The amendment would give Minnesota a formal constitutional basis to issue debt specifically for IT-related capital investments, potentially enabling larger or longer-term financing for technology modernization projects.
  • Credit and debt management: As with any debt, the proposal raises considerations about debt limits, debt service costs, interest rates, maturity profiles, and long-term fiscal sustainability. The current text does not specify limits beyond general constitutional debt authority; such constraints would likely be defined in future enabling statutes or bond authorizing laws.
  • Policy alignment: Fits within broader efforts some states undertake to modernize government technology infrastructure and ensure state agencies have up-to-date IT resources.

Bottom line

HF 3352 would, if approved by voters in 2026, amend the Minnesota Constitution to authorize the state to incur public debt to fund public IT systems, licenses, and infrastructure, in addition to existing authorized debt purposes. The measure would require a favorable vote at the 2026 general election to take effect.

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

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