HF1444 Summary

• Appropriates $5.24 billion for transportation and public safety for fiscal years 2014-2015, including $2.39 billion to the Department of Transportation, $107.9 million to the Metropolitan Council for transit operations, and $156.4 million to the Department of Public Safety.

• Authorizes $300.3 million in trunk highway bonds for the "Corridors of Commerce" program to improve trunk highways for commerce and freight movement, with up to 17% available for program delivery costs.

• Establishes new transportation programs including a Corridors of Commerce program for competitive selection of highway projects, a Transportation Economic Development program providing grants for multimodal projects, and Safe Routes to School non-infrastructure activities.

• Modifies driver licensing and impaired driving laws, including new license suspension/revocation periods for criminal vehicular operation offenses, mandatory ignition interlock device requirements, and restricted license provisions for certain DWI-related violations.

• Adjusts motor vehicle and wheelage taxes, including increasing the county wheelage tax rate to $10 per vehicle (2014-2017) and up to $20 thereafter, modifying vehicle title and registration fees, and establishing new sales tax provisions for non-metropolitan counties.