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MinnesotaSF 90894th Legislature, 2025-2026SenateWALLET

Provisions governing the certification of underground telecommunications installers modification

Sponsored By: Robert J. Kupec (Democratic)

Became Law

Labor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Shorter installer training with state oversight

Effective the day after final enactment, the law cuts initial installer training from 40 hours to 10 hours. Classroom and hands-on training cover digging rules, finding and verifying utilities, responding to utility strikes, and traffic control. Training also covers drill tracking and avoiding or reducing safety hazards. Applicants must pass a state-approved exam and take a four-hour refresher within three years of initial training, then every three years. Minnesota’s labor commissioner approves program standards in consultation with the Office of Broadband and must set a training-provider approval process. Providers can lose approval temporarily or permanently for failing to teach the approved material or adequately prepare participants for the exam.

Statewide safety rules with fewer drilling staff

Effective the day after final enactment, underground telecommunications work within 10 feet of existing utilities, or crossing them, requires safety-qualified installers. Beginning January 1, 2026, this requirement covers installations statewide, replacing the July 1, 2025 deadline for the seven-county metropolitan area. Work on private property less than 36 inches deep is exempt from this section, including the statewide requirement. Directional drilling no longer requires two safety-qualified installers on site. A safety-qualified installer must still monitor the drill head’s location and depth.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Robert J. Kupec

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Burkel

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Davis

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Gene Dornink

    Republican • Senate

  • Grant Hauschild

    Democratic • Senate

  • Kresha

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Lawrence

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Murphy

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Perryman

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Aric Putnam

    Democratic • Senate

  • Roach

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Schultz

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Torrey N. Westrom

    Republican • Senate

  • Wolgamott

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Zeleznikar

    Affiliation unavailable

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 198 • No: 0

House vote • 5/12/2025

Passage

Yes: 134 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/30/2025

Third Reading

Yes: 64 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Secretary of State Chapter 23

    5/19/2025Senate

  2. Governor's action Approval

    5/19/2025Senate

  3. Presentment date

    5/16/2025Senate

  4. Returned from House

    5/13/2025Senate

  5. Bill was passed vote: 134-0

    5/12/2025House

  6. Third reading

    5/12/2025House

  7. House rule 1.21, placed on Calendar for the Day Monday, May 12, 2025

    5/8/2025House

  8. Second reading

    5/1/2025House

  9. Bills not identical, SF substituted on General Register

    5/1/2025House

  10. Senate file first reading, referred for comparison HF47

    4/30/2025House

  11. Received from Senate

    4/30/2025House

  12. Third reading Passed vote: 64-0

    4/30/2025Senate

  13. Special Order

    4/30/2025Senate

  14. Second reading

    4/7/2025Senate

  15. Comm report: To pass

    4/7/2025Senate

  16. Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Developmenta 1

    4/1/2025Senate

  17. Referred to Labor

    2/3/2025Senate

  18. Introduction and first reading

    2/3/2025Senate

Bill Text

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