S.F. No. 4485 Bill Summary

• Authorizes Minnesota towns to adopt home rule charters, extending charter authority previously available only to cities.

• Establishes charter commission appointment process through district court order, voter petition (10% of registered voters), or town board resolution, with commission size of 7-15 members.

• Requires charter commission to submit draft charter or report determining charter unnecessary to town clerk; draft must specify town name, boundaries, and town board organization options.

• Sets town charter commission expense limit at $1,500 annually with town board authorization for additional expenses, compared to higher limits for city commissions.

• Applies existing charter election, amendment, and dissolution procedures to towns, including 51% voter approval threshold for adoption and allows charter abandonment to revert to statutory town status.