Minnesota enacts sweeping new laws on housing, school bus safety and farmworker recognition
Minnesota has introduced several new laws, covering housing, road safety, and agricultural workers. Governor Tim Walz also signed a bill replacing Cesar Chavez Day with Farmworkers Day. The changes reflect shifts in state priorities and funding allocations. One of the key measures, HF 3425, directs $9 million from the Strengthen Supportive Housing Program to organisations receiving federal Continuum of Care funding. The bill does not require new spending, as it uses an existing 2023 budget allocation.
A new traffic law, SF 3623, now requires drivers to stop at least 20 feet from a school bus when its red lights are flashing. Vehicles must remain stationary until the bus signal turns off. The rule aims to improve safety for children boarding or exiting school buses. Another change involves hemp product testing. HF 3615 extends the deadline for lower-potency hemp edibles to be tested at approved out-of-state labs until May 31, 2027. This gives businesses more time to comply with state regulations. Meanwhile, HF 4541 removes Cesar Chavez Day from Minnesota's list of official observances. Governor Walz then declared March 31 as Farmworkers Day instead. The decision contrasts with three other states—California, Colorado, and Texas—where Cesar Chavez Day remains a recognised holiday.
The new laws bring adjustments to housing funding, school bus safety, and hemp testing deadlines. The replacement of Cesar Chavez Day with Farmworkers Day also marks a shift in how the state acknowledges agricultural labour. All measures have now taken effect under Governor Walz's approval.
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