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

A bill for an act

proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, section 5;

providing for public debt to be incurred for public information technology systems,

licenses, and infrastructure.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.
new text begin
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSED.
new text end

new text begin

An amendment to the Minnesota Constitution is proposed to the people. If the amendment

is adopted, article XI, section 5, will read:

new text end

Sec. 5.

Public debt may be contracted and works of internal improvements carried on

for the following purposes:

(a) to acquire and to better public land and buildings and other public improvements of

a capital nature and to provide money to be appropriated or loaned to any agency or political

subdivision of the state for such purposes if the law authorizing the debt is adopted by the

vote of at least three-fifths of the members of each house of the legislature;

(b) to repel invasion or suppress insurrection;

(c) to borrow temporarily as authorized in section 6;

(d) to refund outstanding bonds of the state or any of its agencies whether or not the full

faith and credit of the state has been pledged for the payment of the bonds;

(e) to establish and maintain highways subject to the limitations of article XIV;

(f) to promote forestation and prevent and abate forest fires, including the compulsory

clearing and improving of wild lands whether public or private;

(g) to construct, improve and operate airports and other air navigation facilities;

(h) to develop the state's agricultural resources by extending credit on real estate security

in the manner and on the terms and conditions prescribed by law;

(i) to improve and rehabilitate railroad rights-of-way and other rail facilities whether

public or private, provided that bonds issued and unpaid shall not at any time exceed

$200,000,000 par value;
deleted text begin
and
deleted text end

(j)
new text begin
to pay capital costs of design, acquisition, installation, construction, equipping, and

servicing public information technology systems, licenses, and infrastructure; and
new text end

new text begin

(k)
new text end
as otherwise authorized in this constitution.

As authorized by law political subdivisions may engage in the works permitted by (f),

(g),
deleted text begin
and
deleted text end
(i)
new text begin
, and (j)
new text end
and contract debt therefor.

Sec. 2.
new text begin
SUBMISSION TO VOTERS.
new text end

new text begin

The proposed amendment must be submitted to the people at the 2026 general election.

The question submitted must be:

new text end

new text begin

"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?

new text end

new text begin

Yes

.

new text end

new text begin

No

.

"

new text end