Root River State Trail funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Greg Davids

The bill funds and authorizes up to 6 million in bonds to construct the Preston to Carimona segment of the Root River State Trail.

Introduction and first reading, referred to Capital Investment

#appropriations #bonds #parksandtrails

Key purpose

HF 3852 authorizes state funding and the sale of bonds to finance construction of a segment of the Root River State Trail from the city of Preston to the city of Carimona in Minnesota. The bill appropriates money from the bond proceeds fund and directs the state to issue bonds to cover the appropriation.

Main provisions

Appropriation of bond funds

The bill authorizes an appropriation of $6,000,000 from the Bond Proceeds Fund to the Commissioner of Natural Resources.
Purpose: for construction of the Root River State Trail along the segment from Preston to Carimona, in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 85.015.

Bond issuance authorization

To fund the appropriation, the Commissioner of Management and Budget is directed to sell and issue state bonds in an amount up to $6,000,000.
Bond issuance must comply with Minnesota statutes governing the sale (Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675) and the state constitution (Article XI, sections 4 to 7).

Effective date

The section becomes effective the day after final enactment.

Who/what is affected

Construction and management: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) would oversee the construction of the Root River State Trail segment from Preston to Carimona.

Financing: The state’s Bonding and Debt Management offices would issue the bonds; the Bond Proceeds Fund would disburse the appropriation.

Geographic impact: The project affects the Root River State Trail corridor within the Preston–Carimona route, potentially impacting local communities, tourism, and outdoor recreation infrastructure along this corridor.

Fiscal and procedural notes

Funding source: Bond proceeds fund (state debt financing).

Budget mechanism: Requires issuance of bonds in the amount specified, following the statutory framework for debt issuance and the state constitution.

Timing: Effective once enacted; bond sale can occur under the standard state procedures for issuing general obligation bonds.

Legislative action: Introduced (HF 3852) and referred to the Capital Investment committee; co-sponsored by Greg Davids.

Potential impacts and considerations

Enables rapid advancement of trail infrastructure along a key regional corridor, potentially supporting outdoor recreation, tourism, and local economies.

Increases state debt through general obligation bonds; requires ongoing debt service planning and fiscal oversight.

Beneficiaries include travelers and residents along the Root River State Trail, adjacent communities, and state recreation programs.

Project scope and design specifics would be governed by applicable statutes and DNR project plans, with potential environmental, permitting, and community engagement considerations as part of the construction process.

If you’d like, I can provide a plain-language comparison to current law, or estimate potential annual debt service costs based on typical bond terms.

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