III.2. 2026 Legislative Priorities; Baker
CITY OF HOPKINS
Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Mike Mornson, City Manager
From: David Baker, Program Specialist
Date: February 17, 2026
Subject: 2026 Legislative Priorities
_____________________________________________________________________
PURPOSE
To provide an overview of the City’s legislative agenda for 2026
INFORMATION
This year’s legislative agenda remains much the same as the 2025 version, though
there are some notable changes. The most significant of these is the removal of a
bonding request for the proposed Recreation and Resilience Hub project due to a lack
of matching funds. Additionally, the City did not renew its contract with Lockridge
Grindal Nauen for lobbying services in 2026.
Other changes for 2026 include:
Support for special legislation for Hopkins TIF District 1-6 to extend the 5-Year
Rule
An amendment to cannabis law that re-establishes revenue sharing with
municipalities for administrative work on compliance
Changes to electric vehicle law eliminating a requirement for a public charging
operator’s license and the $100 per port inspection fee for retail electric vehicle
supply equipment.
FUTURE ACTION
Staff will provide updates on the legislative session as needed.
Administration
City of Hopkins
2026 Legislative Agenda
About Hopkins
The City of Hopkins is a fully developed, dynamic urban
community located five miles west of Minneapolis with a
current population of approximately 19,079. Hopkins is
demographically unique to the Twin Cities with 38% of the
population identifying as non-white and 65% of residents in
Hopkins renting their homes. The City is four-square miles,
making it one of the densest communities in the metro area.
The METRO Green Line light rail extension is driving rapid
population and housing growth. The Metropolitan Council
forecasts that the population will be 21,000 by 2030 and
21,800 by 2040.
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2026 Legislative Priorities
The City of Hopkins participates in the Municipal Legislative Commission,
League of Minnesota Cities, Metro Cities, Minnesota State Fire Chiefs
Association and Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association and generally
supports their legislative platforms. This legislative agenda is intended to
advocate specifically for the community’s residents and businesses, avoid
duplication of services, and enable the city to govern itself.
Hopkins supports the following legislative priorities:
• Redevelopment Tools
The legislature should consider the expansion of redevelopment tools
such as tax increment financing and tax abatement to help support
development in cities. The City will be pursuing Special Legislation for
Hopkins TIF District 1-6 to extend the 5-Year Rule.
• Local Control
The legislature should work to maintain local control for city planning and
zoning matters, and be mindful of the unintended consequences that may
occur through preemption of this control.
• Cannabis
The legislature should continue to support the preservation of local
control measures within the current adult-use cannabis law, including
local zoning authority and local registration authority of cannabis
businesses. The legislature should amend cannabis law to re-establish
revenue sharing with local municipalities for administering cannabis
registration and compliance monitoring.
• Tree Canopy & Emerald Ash Borer
The legislature should continue to support funding which assists cities
with tree removal and replacement in areas affected by invasive species to
preserve urban canopies.
• Local Sales Taxes
The legislature should allow for a change in law to generally allow cities to
enact a local sales tax for public improvements and capital replacement
costs without requiring a special law authorization.
• Electric Vehicles
The legislature should pursue consistency in the method of sale, labeling,
and advertising in support of consumers who utilize Minnesota’s growing
public charging network and eliminate the requirement for a public
charging operator’s license and the new annual $100 inspection fee per
port for retail electric vehicle supply equipment.
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Other Legislative Priorities
• SUPPORT legislation to allow two-family and accessory dwelling units
by-right, but retain local autonomy in the development and approval of
official controls.
• SUPPORT tax preferences to assist developers in converting underutilized
commercial properties to residential properties and Conversion of
Underutilized Buildings Tax Credit (CUB).
• SUPPORT legislation prohibiting housing discrimination against Section
8 and other rental assistance voucher holders.
• SUPPORT legislation to stiffen penalties to include mandatory minimum
sentences for fleeing in a motor vehicle and modify the law governing the
use of tracking devices on fleeing vehicles.
• SUPPORT legislation that would increase penalties for violent felons in
possession of firearms and for straw purchases and illegal sales of firearms
from licensed gun dealers.
• SUPPORT legislation that prohibits prosecutors’ offices and law
enforcement agencies from declaring something legal in their jurisdiction
that state or local laws state is illegal.
• OPPOSE any legislation that would eliminate or reduce the ability to use
State Aid funds for local projects, including lane reductions.
• SUPPORT legislation that would designate all solid waste taxes to the
state’s SCORE fund to support sustainability efforts.
• OPPOSE any legislation that attempts to remove or alter building codes
and regulations that ensure residential safety and monitor proposed group
home legislation impacting fire safety and access.
• SUPPORT legislation which allow local governments to set standards for
EMS services in their communities.
• SUPPORT legislation allocating funding to local jurisdictions for staffing
and equipment to support public safety measures related to the light rail.
• SUPPORT legislation establishing a Right to Cooling Standard for
Minnesotans that is equitable for NOAH property owners.
For questions or more information, please contact
City of Hopkins Program Specialist David Baker
at dbaker@hopkinsmn.com.
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