Heading into the 2025 Legislative session, with MN Republicans gaining seats in the Legislature resulting in a tie in the House and a 1-seat majority for Democrats in the Senate, we understood this session required bipartisan support. Coupled with the release of the Minnesota Management & Budget’s forecast for a budget deficit (Minnesota’s state constitution requires the Legislature to submit a balanced budget for each biennium, which is based on MMB forecasting), the outlook for transformative walking and biking legislation was not overly optimistic. Most of BikeMN’s Legislative Agenda was focused on policy changes, whereas 2025 was a year the Legislature is required to submit a biennial budget, which resulted in that being focus of the transportation omnibus bill.
BikeMN developed a Legislative Agenda with 3 primary foci:
Responsibility In Transportation Investments: cost/benefit analysis & long-term
sustainability
Safer By Design: designing a transportation system that works for users of all modes
Freedom To Move: supporting safe and responsible choices around traffic
While our initial strategy envisioned a small number of bills to carry all of the different provisions
we hoped to propose, we ended up with NINETEEN different bills introduced with different
portions of our agenda.
Ultimately, in a year where virtually nobody got everything they wanted, BikeMN was able to
help secure a few victories for this session, and advance some policy ideas for upcoming
sessions. Both Safe Routes To School (SRTS) and MNDoT’s Active Transportation program –
which BikeMN lobbied to create! – were funded in the final Transportation Bill signed by the
Governor. The appropriations while below the historic 2023 levels continue to provide a
significant investment in walking and biking for MN. Active transportation and transit funding
come from the General Fund while the highway system is funded with dedicated constitutional
funds (eg gas tax and registration fees for roads). By necessity most of the cuts needed to
balance a budget come from the General Fund. Protecting *any appropriation can be
considered a successful outcome, and in fact the final dollar amount actually exceeded the
Governor’s proposed budget, thanks especially to allies including Sen. Scott Dibble, and Rep
Erin Koegel, the respective chair/co-chair of the Transportation Committees. Unfortunately public
transit fared much worse, with many planned expansions and improvements being delayed
indefinitely.
Another one of BikeMN’s key legislative accomplishments from 2023, the creation of the state’s
first E-Bike Rebate program was at risk for losing its funding due to the negative budget target
for Transportation. Thanks to bipartisan leadership, including especially Sen Jim Abeler (R), Sen Omar Fateh (D), and Rep Lucy Rehm (D), BikeMN helped to rework the program with key changes to make the program operate more effectively and equitably. Now instead of a first-come-first-served enrollment process that led to much frustration and disappointment (the statewide rollout event was attended its first year by more people than a Vikings home game or a weekday at the state fair!) the Dept of Revenue will administer an open enrollment period with a lottery if necessary for qualifying applicants. Eligibility for the rebate program will now be restricted to people with lower-incomes or a physical disability, maximum rebate amounts were changed to $750, which will roughly *double the total number of rebates awarded (as prices for ebikes have decreased somewhat). [Follow BikeMN @newsletter-signup to stay current with the status of this year’s ebike rebate! ]
Although many of our policy proposals weren’t ultimately included in the final Transportation bill,
we were able to get many of these policies drafted into a bill and introduced in committees,
where they were discussed and debated. BikeMN and our partners provided expert testimony
on behalf of the legislation. We are optimistic that this will help to refine and strengthen these
policies and make them more likely to pass in a future session, possibly as soon as next year! A
brief rundown of these bills include:
● Decriminalizing jaywalking – removing the primary offense for pedestrians to cross a
street when they feel it is safe for them to do so (without impeding applicable right-of-
way)
● Idaho Stop – in 2023, the state passed a “stop as yield” law but stopped short of allowing
bicyclists to proceed through a clear intersection at a red light
● Adding flexibility to road design standards – allows the use of federally approved design
standards, bypassing the currently required commissioner review process
● Creation of an Office of Inspector General – bringing more accountability to state
agencies, including of particular interest for walking and biking the Dept of
Transportation, for adhering to laws and policies, including Complete Streets, VMT
reductions, GHG emissions reductions, etc
● Requiring ”daylighting” at intersections – prevent parking within 25’ of all intersections, to
improve visibility for drivers and pedestrians
● Clarifying “highway purpose” in statute – MN roadways are intended to support users of
*any transportation mode
In addition to the above policies that BikeMN helped to develop and advocate for, we supported
a number of other bills developed by our allies including the Sierra Club, Our Streets MN,
MoveMN, Neighbors 4 More Neighbors, MN Environmental Partnership, and others that would
have: reduced environmental harms, improved highway design processes, improved access
and service of public transit, improved housing and land use, and more. While these issues are
not all directly related to active transportation, we certainly see them as intersectional, and are
proud to support our partners in advocating for these as well.
Finally, one other significant achievement from this recent session was protecting the landmark
2023 legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are driving our current
climate crisis, and reducing cumulative vehicle miles traveled (VMT). These policies are critical
for the growth and advancement of active transportation and transit, but were targeted for
weakening, delay, or removal altogether. Ultimately, with vocal support from many allies
including BikeMN, the legislature held firm in keeping this important legislation in place. Taken
together, these laws set a clear vision and direction for our state, especially as it relates to our
transportation future.
As we look back on one of the more challenging legislative sessions in MN history, I wanted to
take a moment to thank every one of our members, allies, partner organizations, testifiers, and
letter writers. Through it all we stayed focused on our mission of working towards a Minnesota
where every body – regardless of age, ability, or location – is able to safely and conveniently
choose the mobility option that best fits their needs. The direct state level advocacy we do
during the legislative session is only possible because of the support and dedication of
Minnesotans like you. The legislation we ran on this year was put together by our volunteer
advocacy committee consisting of members from across the state. It was bold, ambitious, and
shifted the needle on what is possible here at home and across the nation.