KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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HF3458 • 2026

Tribal lands exempted from provisions governing exclusive service areas for electric utilities.

Tribal lands exempted from provisions governing exclusive service areas for electric utilities.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Acomb, Buck, Jones, Falconer, Hollins, Kraft
Last action
2026-02-19
Official status
Introduction and first reading, referred to Energy Finance and Policy
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how utilities will operate together within tribal lands or the exact process if a utility wants to extend service into tribal land.

Tribal Lands Exempt from Electric Utility Service Areas

The bill removes certain restrictions on electric utilities operating in tribal lands, allowing them to provide service without needing permission from other utilities.

What This Bill Does

  • Exempts tribal lands from rules that usually stop one electric utility company from providing services within another's area.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Electric utility companies operating in Minnesota
  • Tribal communities within the state of Minnesota

Terms To Know

Sovereign Indian nations
The eleven recognized Native American tribes in Minnesota that have their own government and laws.
Exclusive service areas
Areas where only one electric utility company is allowed to provide services without permission from others.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how utilities will work together in tribal lands.
  • It's unclear what happens if a utility wants to extend service outside its usual area but into tribal land.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-19 House

    Introduction and first reading, referred to Energy Finance and Policy

Official Summary Text

Tribal lands exempted from provisions governing exclusive service areas for electric utilities.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A bill for an act

relating to energy; exempting Tribal lands from provisions governing exclusive

service areas for electric utilities; amending Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement,

section 216B.40.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2025 Supplement, section 216B.40, is amended to read:

216B.40 EXCLUSIVE SERVICE RIGHT; SERVICE EXTENSION.

new text begin

(a)
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Except as provided in sections
216B.42
,
216B.421
, and
216B.422
, each electric

utility shall have the exclusive right to provide electric service at retail to each and every

present and future customer in its assigned service area and no electric utility shall render

or extend electric service at retail within the assigned service area of another electric utility

unless the electric utility consents thereto in writing; provided that any electric utility may

extend its facilities through the assigned service area of another electric utility if the extension

is necessary to facilitate the electric utility connecting its facilities or customers within its

own assigned service area.

new text begin

(b) The exclusive rights and assigned service areas referenced in paragraph (a) do not

apply within the exterior boundaries of the 11 sovereign Indian nations in Minnesota

identified in section 10.65, subdivision 2.

new text end

new text begin

EFFECTIVE DATE.

new text end

new text begin

This section is effective the day following final enactment.

new text end