MAPA Enews – November 2025
EVENTS
2025 MN ASPHALT CONFERENCE
MAPA is looking forward to the annual MN Asphalt Conference! Join us for educational sessions with a great lineup of speakers, connect with sponsors during exhibit hours or in the hospitality room, enjoy networking during the awards luncheon or the social reception where you’ll have an opportunity to win great items on the auction (silent & live).
IN-PERSON EPD SOFTWARE TRAINING OPPORTUNITY PROVIDED BY MNDOT/MAPA
Wednesday, December 10th 1:00 - 4:00 pm (after the MAPA Conference) | St. Cloud Convention Center
Join MAPA and MnDOT for hands-on training on how to create Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for asphalt mixtures using NAPA’s Emerald Eco-Label software.
Starting with a bit of pre-work to gather your plant data, we’ll spend the session walking step-by-step through the software so you can leave with the skills and knowledge to properly create your own EPDs.
Bring your laptop and your questions! MnDOT will begin requiring EPDs on Trunk Highway projects over 1,000 tons starting with February 2026 lettings, so now’s the time to get ready.
Who should attend:
Staff who will be creating or overseeing EPD production at your plants.
Training led by:
WAP Sustainability — national experts in asphalt EPD development and data systems.
There is no charge but registration is required. MAPA Conference attendance is separate.
SAVE THE DATE: 2026 LOW CARBON CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS CONFERENCE
February 3rd 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Minneapolis Marriott West
Join MAPA, CPAM, AGC, ARM, and MnDOT for a conference about low carbon construction materials.
EPD AND DBE WEBINAR RECORDINGS
Attention MN Producers: MnDOT will start asking for EPDs on final payment on trunk highway jobs over 1000 tons in February 2026.
If you don't have the Emerald Eco Label software, please apply for your free 5-year license from the MAPA EPD Grant Program.
Rebates are also available for purchased products. Find more information and how to apply here.
If you missed the recent EPD or DBE webinars, the links to the recordings can be found here.
DIG, PAVE & DRIVE TO THE TOP(GOLF)
March 12th | 4:00 - 7:00 PM | TopGolf Woodbury
Save the date! Swing into spring and golf with your industry peers at this one-of-a-kind event at the new TopGolf in Woodbury.
MN/DAKOTAS WOMEN OF ASPHALT NETWORKING LUNCHEON
December 9, 2025 | 11:45 AM – 12:45 PM | St. Cloud River's Edge Convention Center
Join us for the 2025 MN/DAKOTA Women of Asphalt Branch Annual Meeting! This year's meeting is a luncheon with keynote speaker Melissa DeLay and is in conjunction with MAPA's Annual Asphalt Conference in St. Cloud. Please register for this no-cost event. You do not need to register for the full MAPA conference or be a MAPA member to attend.
Speaker: Melissa DeLay, TruPerception
How to gain influence and communicate your way to results in male-dominated industries.
A 30-minute interactive "how to" session that equips women with advanced communication skills.
How to…
- Negotiate when someone won't budge
- Navigate sports-heavy conversations
- Speak up when your voice isn't being heard
- Amplify the voice of other women
- Ask for a raise
- Set the tone at a meeting
- How to come from a position of power as a professional woman while staying true to yourself
- Easily curtail invasive and offensive comments at work
Learn more about the Women of Asphalt.
NAPA WEBINAR
RESEARCH RADAR: WORK ZONE SAFETY
November 20, 2025 | 10:00 - 11:15 AM
Join MnDOT's Office of Research & Innovation and the Minnesota Local Road Research Board for Research Radar: Work Zone Safety.
In this webinar, we'll feature the following projects:
- A Mobile App to Report Driver Intrusions Into Work Zones
- User-Centered Smart Traffic Sign Development Study
Free to attend, but you must register.
VETA ENHANCEMENTS IN PROGRESS
presented by George Chang, Ph.D., P.E., The Transtec Group and Rebecca Embacher, P.E., Minnesota DOT
Nov 18th | 10AM
Intelligent Construction Technologies (ICT), including E-Ticketing, Paver-Mounted Thermal Profiling (PMTP), Intelligent Compaction (IC), and Dielectric Profile Systems (DPS), are rapidly maturing into field-ready solutions that enhance paving quality. The expansion of E-Ticketing into a comprehensive Material Delivery Management System (MDMS) now encompasses source tracking, loading and delivery events, materials testing, contract administration, agency field verification, and hauler operations. The Veta MDMS and web project sponsored by NRRA produces a unified web-based application to integrate these intelligent construction technologies within a standardized platform, allowing agencies and contractors to leverage the benefits of ICT fully. This presentation will highlight the roadmap and progress for development of Veta MDMS & Web, and how these integrated tools can improve paving quality through near real-time, full-coverage digital as-built data, supported by case studies.
This webinar is an open invitation to join as the topic suits your interests. Feel free to forward this event to anyone else.
About Research Pays Off
Research Pays Off is a recorded event; the upcoming schedule and links to previous webinar recordings are available on our webpage: Research Pays Off Webinar Series - NRRA - MnDOT (state.mn.us).
2026 ADA CONSTRUCTION RECERTIFICATION
Who should take this course:
This course is for current ADA Construction Certification holders.
ADA Construction Certifications are valid for three years, including the year in which the training was successfully completed for both certifications and recertifications. If your three-year certification has expired, you will be required to retake the 8-hour classroom training to obtain the ADA Construction Certification. The 8-hour classroom option is available to anyone wanting more in-depth ADA construction training and information, including those needing recertification who would prefer the classroom training to the online course.
This refresher course covers:
- MnDOT Special Provisions Prosecution of Work ADA (1804)
- Curb Ramp Standard Plan 5-297.250
- Sidewalk and Driveway Standard Plan 5-297.254
- Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS)
This course will be available from January 5th, 2026, until March 31st, 2026.
Registration
- Registration and an up-to-date Certification list for this course can be found at: Training Courses - Accessibility - MnDOT (state.mn.us)
- Cost: $150
Contact:
Dustin Walls
Engineering Specialist Senior
MNDOT Operations Division ADA
Cell 218-396-0865
Minnesota's New Paid Leave Law is Fast-Approaching: Are You Ready?
Daniel R. Olson and Benjamin H. Formell
November is upon us, and as many turn their attention to the upcoming holidays, Minnesota Employers have another date top-of-mind: Effective January 1, 2026, Minnesota’s new Paid Leave Law takes effect. Qualifying Minnesota employees will be entitled to 12 weeks of paid medical leave and 12 weeks of family leave, not to exceed 20 weeks in a single 12-month period. Importantly, employers will be required to post notices and distribute individual notifications about the new changes by December 1, 2025.
The new rules apply to all public and private employers, but not to independent contractors or self-employed individuals (can both opt in), Tribal Nations, federal government employees, railroad employees, and seasonal hospitality employees who have been notified that they are exempt by their employer. An employee outside these categories generally qualifies for the new paid leave rule if they earned at least 5.3% of the statewide average annual wage in the previous year, worked a minimum of 50% of their time in Minnesota, and experience a qualifying event under the program for at least seven days. Qualifying events include medical leave, meaning leave taken for the employee’s own serious health condition, or family leave, meaning leave taken to bond with a new child, care for a family member’s serious health condition, address safety concerns (i.e. domestic violence and other related forms of family safety concerns), or support a family member called to active military service. Each leave type generally requires certification from a health-care provider or a service provider.
The program is funded by employer premium contributions taken partially from payroll deductions, currently set at 0.88% of taxable wages to the employee. The employer is required to contribute at least 50% of the premium. The premium will be calculated on an annual basis. Payroll deductions can begin January 1, 2026, but the first premiums are due April 30, 2026.
Employers will be required to maintain employees’ health insurance and other benefits during their leave. An employee must also be permitted to return to their previous role, or an equivalent position, if they occupied that role for at least 90 days prior to taking leave. Failure to comply with the new rules can result in significant penalties, as high as $10,000 per violation. Alternative plans may be permitted with approval from relevant state authorities. Employers will want to plan ahead and be strategic to ensure compliance with the new program, including planning for premium deductions.
At Bassford Remele, we keep ahead of the curve on developments in employment law to help employers plan and strategize for upcoming and brewing changes in the legal landscape. Feel free to reach out if we can help you comply with the new Paid Leave Law in any way!
The Work Week with Bassford Remele, 11-03-25