State Lawmakers Could Address Pair of Rochester-Specific Items During 2026 Legislative Session

St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News)- The 2026 Minnesota legislative session gets started in St. Paul on Tuesday. 

See Also: One Killed, One Injured in Lake City House Fire 

Each party has an equal number of seats in the Minnesota state house and the DFL has a one-seat majority in the state senate. 

It will be the final session with Tim Walz as Governor. Lawmakers are not mandated to pass a state budget this session. 

There are two Rochester-specific issues the elected leaders could address between now and May. 

Sports Complex and Speed Enforcement Cameras in Rochester Could be Addressed by State Lawmakers

One of those issues pertains to the Rochester Regional Sports Complex, which is being funded in part by sales tax revenue. 

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State lawmakers previously signed off on Rochester putting a referendum extending its sales tax on the ballot in 2023 and using $65 million of that revenue to fund the complex. 

Rochester DFL Lawmakers Plan Bill to Revoke Sales Tax Revenue for Sports Complex Funding

In December, State Representatives Kim Hicks, Tina Liebling, and Andy Smith, along with State Senator Liz Bolden said they would introduce bills that would revoke the use of Rochester's local sales tax for the Regional Sports Complex project. 

They argue the public was deceived about the cost of building a complex featuring indoor and outdoor facilities and that the current plan, “serves a narrow set of special interests and ignores the community’s need for indoor recreation space.” 

Read More: Rochester Lawmakers Threaten to Pull Funding for Sports Complex 

The cost for an indoor and outdoor facility has been estimated to be $120 million. 

The Rochester City Council voted 5-2 in December to override a veto issued by Mayor Kim Norton regarding $62 million in spending on the complex for a construction contract and material buy. 

Rochester Seeking Approval from State Lawmakers to Implement Speed Enforcement Camera Test Program

The Rochester City Council voted 4-3 in November to ask the state legislature for permission to implement a speed camera enforcement pilot program. 

Read More: Rochester City Council Votes to Seek State Lawmakers Approval for Speed Enforcement Cameras 

Ward 2 Councilmember Nick Miller  introduced the measure as an amendment during the council’s vote on setting legislative priorities. 

If the pilot program is approved, Miller said the earliest the cameras would be installed would be in 2027.