1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to eminent domain; eliminating certain procedural exceptions for 
1.3 	construction or expansion of light rail or bus rapid transit lines; amending Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes 2016, section 117.189.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2016, section 117.189, is amended to read:
1.7 	117.189 PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATION EXCEPTIONS.
1.8 	(a) Sections 117.031; 117.036; 117.055, subdivision 2, paragraph (b); 117.186; 117.187; 
1.9 	117.188; and 117.52, subdivisions 1a and 4, do not apply to the use of eminent domain 
1.10 	authority by public service corporations for any purpose other than construction or expansion 
1.11 	of:
1.12 	(1) a high-voltage transmission line of 100 kilovolts or more, or ancillary substations; 
1.13 	or
1.14 	(2) a natural gas, petroleum, or petroleum products pipeline, or ancillary compressor 
1.15 	stations or pumping stations.; or
1.16 	(3) a light rail transit or bus rapid transit line.
1.17 	(b) For purposes of an award of appraisal fees under section 117.085, the fees awarded 
1.18 	may not exceed $1,500 for all types of property except for a public service corporation's 
1.19 	use of eminent domain for a high-voltage transmission line, where the award may not exceed 
1.20 	$3,000.
1.21 	(c) For purposes of this section, "pipeline" does not include a natural gas distribution 
1.22 	line transporting gas to an end user.

2.1 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective retroactively from January 1, 2017.