Senators Draheim, Simonson, Westrom, Koran, and Utke introduce a broadband bill (SF3049) to the MN Senate. (A similar bill was introduced in the MN House earlier.)

S.F. No. 3049: A bill for an act relating to telecommunications; providing an annual statutory appropriation for the broadband development grant program; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 116J.396, subdivision 3.

Here’s the full text:

A bill for an act
relating to telecommunications; providing an annual statutory appropriation for
the broadband development grant program; appropriating money; amending
Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 116J.396, subdivision 3.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 116J.396, subdivision 3, is amended to read:

Subd. 3.

Transfer; appropriation; use.

$30,000,000 each fiscal year is transferred from
the general fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development for deposit
in the border-to-border broadband fund under subdivision 1. Money in the account is
appropriated to the commissioner for the purposes of specified in subdivision 2.

EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION.

This section is effective July 1, 2020. The first
transfer under this section must be made in fiscal year 2021.

The Bill  was referred to Agriculture, Rural Development, and Housing Finance.