Library Class and Subject Guides: Urban Studies Planning Law: Minnesota Law

Minnesota Statuatory Law

Like the Federal Government, the passed legislation is compiled in session laws and then codified in a publication Minnesota Statutes.

Minnesota Session Laws
Laws of Minnesota is an annual compilation and is often referred to as the "session laws." It contains all the acts of the Legislature as passed in each year's legislative session.
Minnesota Statutes
Minnesota Statutes is a compilation of the general and permanent laws of the state arranged by subject.

Sections of Minnesota Statutes that may be useful for planners:

114C - 116I ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

116J - 116O ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING

117 EMINENT DOMAIN

160 - 174A TRANSPORTATION

365 - 368 TOWNS

370 - 403 COUNTIES, COUNTY OFFICERS, REGIONAL AUTHORITIES

410 - 414 CITIES, ORGANIZATION

415 - 418 CITIES, GENERAL GOVERNMENT

419 - 425 MUNICIPAL PERSONNEL, RETIREMENT

426 - 435 MUNICIPAL FINANCE, TAXATION, SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS

436 - 439 MUNICIPAL PUBLIC SAFETY

440 - 446A MUNICIPAL PUBLIC WORKS

447 - 450 MUNICIPAL WELFARE, RECREATION

451 - 459 LOCAL PUBLIC UTILITIES, ENTERPRISES

460 - 463 LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLICE POWERS

465 - 466 POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, GENERAL PROVISIONS

466A - 470 LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

471 - 472B MUNICIPALITIES

473 - 473J METROPOLITAN AREA

474 - 477A PUBLIC DEBT; LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID

500 - 515B PROPERTY AND PROPERTY INTERESTS

Minnesota Administrative Law

Minnesota Administrative Rules
An administrative rule is a general statement adopted by an agency to make the law it enforces or administers more specific or to govern the agency's organization or procedure. An agency may adopt a rule only after the legislature has enacted a law granting this authority to the agency. An agency rule that is adopted under the rule making provisions of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 14, has the force and effect of law.
House Research Guide to Rulemaking
Minnesota State Register
The Minnesota State Register is the official publication of the State of Minnesota’s Executive Branch of government, published weekly to fulfill the legislative mandate set forth in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 14, and Minnesota Rules, Chapter 1400. It contains:

Proposed Rules
Executive Orders of the Governor
Commissioners’ Orders
Contracts for Professional, Technical and Consulting Services
Adopted Rules
Exempt Rules
Appointments
Revenue Notices
State Grants and Loans
Expedited Rules
Proclamations
Official Notices
Non-State Public Bids, Contracts and Grants
Withdrawn Rules
Vetoed Rules

Minnesota Case Law

Minnesota case law is available in Nexis Uni. Minnesota Supreme Court cases are available from 1861. Minnesota Appeals Court cases are available from 1983.

Minnesota State Law Library Case Search
The Minnesota State Law Library has Minnesota Supreme and Appeals Court cases back to 1996.

Understanding Minnesota Legal Citations

Citing Minnesota Legal Sources

Minnesota Secondary Sources

Session Daily
Session Daily is an online news service updated every day during session and when news from the House warrants.
House Research Department
Creates reports on various policy topics for members of the House. Much like CRS Reports.
Fiscal Notes from Minnesota Management and Budget
Local impact notes assess the fiscal impact of proposed legislation on state and local units of government. While local notes proceed through a different process than fiscal notes, which affect state agencies and entities, analysis of the revenue or spending impact is collected from varied local units of government - and compiled in a consolidated analysis.
Links to the World -- Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
Great source of information for topics of concern for the State Legislature. Includes Minnesota and National links.
Minnesota Legislative Reference Library Catalog
Essential for Minnesota information. Many of the recent documents listed here have links to the full text of state documents.
List of State Agencies, Boards, and Commissions

Federal, State, & Local Government Laws

Kinds of Law
Category of Law	Federal	State	Local
Basic Law	U.S. Constitution	Minnesota Constitution	Mankato City Charter
Statutory Law
proposed	Bills in the U.S. Congress	Bills in the Minnesota Legislature * work with Indian Affairs Council on topics affecting tribal sovereignty	Mankato City Council Minutes Blue Earth County Board Meeting Minutes
as written when passed	Public Laws Statutes at Large	Minnesota Session Laws (includes temporary laws)	Mankato Code of Ordinances Blue Earth County Code of Ordinances not Codified
codified	United States Code	Minnesota Statutes	Mankato City Code Blue Earth County Code of Ordinances
Regulatory and Administrative Law (used by agencies & departments)
proposed rules, notification of new rules	Federal Register	Minnesota State Register
codified	Code of Federal Regulations	Minnesota Administrative Rules
Case Law Covered More in RPLS 483
Most Cases (Federal & State)	Nexis Uni: Cases		Mankato Administrative Hearing/Review of Public Advisory Committee Blue Earth County Board of Adjustment (land-use regulation)
Highest Court	U.S. Supreme Court opinions	Minnesota Supreme Court opinions
Appellate (appeals) Courts	U.S. Appellate Court opinions	Minnesota Appellate Court opinions
Local Courts	U.S. District/Special Court opinions	Minnesota District (Trial) Court Records	Blue Earth County District Court

Modified from: University Library: California State University Stanislaus

Comparison of Federal, State, & Local Government

Super Brief Comparison of Federal, State, and Local Government Tasks
Federal Government	State Government (using MN as example)	Shared-Federal & State Governments	Local (i.e. city & county) government
Make laws necessary to enforce the US Constitution	Exercise powers neither delegated to the national government or prohibited from the states by the U.S.	Make and enforce laws	Make and enforce codes & ordinances, help enforce state & federal laws
US Supreme Court	State Supreme District Courts	US District Courts	County Courts
Regulate interstate commerce and international trade	Regulate intrastate commerce		Regulate commerce with a city or county
	Conduct elections (shared with local)		Conduct elections (shared with state)
Create and collect federal taxes	Create and collect state taxes		Create and collect local taxes (e.g. property tax)
			Zoning & Planning
Regulate public lands including national parks, forests, and wilderness areas	Regulate public lands including state parks, forests, and wilderness areas		Regulate public lands including city and county parks and recreation areas

Modified from Explaining Federal, State and Local Government Responsibilities in Virginia

Authority for DNR Policymaking

Source:

Frequently Asked Questions About the Minnesota Legislature
Explains terminology like statues, sessions laws, and administrative rules