Rainer public works maintenance facility bond issue and appropriation

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Grant Hauschild

The bill bans satellite absentee voting sites on school property when a school ballot question is on the ballot and requires removing campaign materials from voter view.

Referred to Capital Investment

#citiesandtowns-specific

Main purpose

SF 140 prohibits placement of a satellite absentee voting station on school property when a school-related ballot question (certain school bonds or levies) appears on that same election ballot. The bill also clarifies a requirement that county election officials remove or obscure published materials displaying candidates’ names or materials relating to public measures from voters’ view (other than ballots, sample ballots, or envelopes).

Key provisions

Amends Minnesota Statutes, section 53.11, subsection 1(c) by adding a new subparagraph:

A county commissioner of elections must reject an otherwise valid petition to establish a satellite absentee voting station at a site on school property if, at that election, a school ballot question appears (specifically: a bond, an instructional support program, an educational improvement program, a physical plant and equipment levy, or a public education and recreation levy issued by any school).

Amends section 53.11, subsection 6 to read that the commissioner shall remove or obscure from the view of voters any published material displaying the name of a candidate or elected official and any published material relating to a public measure, other than a ballot, sample ballot, or envelope.

Who is affected

County commissioners of elections: required to deny petitions for satellite sites on school property under the specified conditions and to remove/obscure certain campaign or measure-related materials from voter view.

School districts and school property owners: could no longer host satellite absentee voting stations when their own school ballot questions appear on the ballot.

Petitioners seeking satellite absentee locations: petitions otherwise meeting legal requirements can be rejected solely because the requested site is school property and a school question is on the ballot.

Voters who use satellite absentee voting stations: fewer potential sites available in elections that include school measures.

Procedural status & timeline

Introduced: January 27, 2025 (Senate File 140).

Committee/subcommittee activity: Subcommittee met 01/30/2025; recommended passage.

Amendment S‑3025 filed and adopted.

Passed the Minnesota Senate (March 17, 2025), vote 33–13.

Referred to House committee(s) (listed actions include referral to State Government and Capital Investment in various entries).

Primary sponsor: Senator Dawn Driscoll.

Companion: HF 402.

Potential practical effects / considerations

Could reduce availability of convenient satellite absentee sites where schools commonly serve as polling or early-voting locations.

Intends to limit perceived campaign influence or confusion when school ballot measures are being voted.

May shift demand to other public buildings (libraries, municipal buildings) or require alternate site planning by counties.

Bill