Minnesota Bills | MyRepTracker

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 15, 2026

SF 5295: Limited malt liquor and food retailer definition provision and off-sale limited malt liquor licenses authorization provision

This bill updates Minnesota liquor laws by redefining "limited malt liquor" to include beverages with up to 15 percent alcohol and clarifying the definition of "food retailer" to cover various grocery and convenience stores. It authorizes the state to issue new off-sale licenses specifically for limited malt liquor and adjusts how certain food retailers are treated under existing food licensing rules. The legislation also modifies ownership restrictions, preventing manufacturers and wholesalers from owning retail liquor licenses and expanding disqualifiers for people with specific drug-related convictions. Additionally, it exempts certain food retailers from specific consolidated food licensing requirements and changes how license fees are calculated for exclusive liquor stores.

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 15, 2026

SF 5298: Custody and parenting time provisions modification

This bill modifies Minnesota family law to update how courts determine custody and parenting time, directly affecting parents and children involved in divorce or separation cases. It requires judges to evaluate specific factors such as a child's needs, any history of domestic abuse, and each parent's ability to nurture the child, while explicitly stating that a parent's gender or disability alone cannot decide custody. The legislation establishes a rebuttable presumption that joint legal and physical custody is in the child's best interest unless domestic abuse has occurred, and it mandates that courts make detailed findings for each factor considered. Additionally, the bill clarifies that parenting time does not require an equal division of time and prohibits courts from considering a parent's military deployment status when assessing the child's best interests.

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 15, 2026

SF 5296: School employee health insurance provision, minimum starting salary for nonlicensed school personnel extension provision, paid orientation, professional development for paraprofessional; appropriation

This bill requires Minnesota schools to provide at least 16 hours of paid orientation or professional development annually to paraprofessionals, Title I aides, and other instructional support staff. To help cover these costs, the state will reimburse schools for the wages and related taxes associated with this training, starting in the 2025 fiscal year. Additionally, the legislation sets higher minimum starting salaries for nonlicensed school personnel and mandates that schools consult with employee representatives when planning this training.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 15, 2026

SF 3871: Judge requirement to inquire whether victim has been notified of plea and sentencing hearings

SF 3871 requires judges to ask during plea hearings whether victims have been notified about the plea agreement and sentencing. It expands victim notification rights by informing victims about eligibility for automatic expungement of their offense and protecting minor victims' identities in court documents. The bill also adds protections against employer retaliation for stalking victims and strengthens confidentiality for victim information in prosecutors' petitions. These changes directly affect victims in criminal cases, courts, and prosecutors handling plea agreements and sentencing.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

signed · Minnesota · House May 15, 2026

HF 3522: Veterans; standards established for legislatively directed competitive and direct grants, honor guard detail provided, available benefits to veterans of the Secret War in Laos modified, eligibility for burial in state veterans cemeteries modified, Commanders Task Force established, pay for state active service modified, commissioner of veterans affairs allowed to temporarily close veterans homes, reports required, and money appropriated.

HF 3522 allows Minnesota's Commissioner of Veterans Affairs to close state veterans homes when required by federal health regulators (like Medicare/Medicaid) after receiving an involuntary termination notice. It specifically permits closure only after safely transferring all residents to appropriate care settings under state law. The bill modifies existing rules by removing a prior restriction that prevented closures without new legislation enacted after 2015. This change directly affects veterans homes and their residents, ensuring compliance with federal requirements while mandating advance notice to the governor and relevant legislative committees. The law does not authorize new closures but aligns state procedures with federal healthcare regulations.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · Minnesota · Senate May 15, 2026

SF 476: Omnibus Human Services policy bill

SF 476 expands Minnesota's medical assistance program to cover "care evaluations" - face-to-face assessments to develop or update home care plans (excluding personal care). It modifies payment rates for homemaker services, home health agencies, and home care nursing. The bill directly affects home care recipients (including seniors and people with disabilities) and the providers delivering these services. Key changes include adding care evaluations to covered services and requiring county public health nurses to conduct certain assessments and updates. All provisions take effect January 1, 2026, or after federal approval.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

died · Minnesota · Senate May 15, 2026

SF 2255: Omnibus E-12 Education appropriations

SF 2255 is an appropriations bill that adjusts funding for Minnesota's K-12 education system, primarily focusing on transportation aid for public and nonpublic schools. It amends statutes to clarify how school districts can transport students from nonpublic schools, including rules for sharing transportation costs and retaining state aid for these services. The bill requires school districts to report on nonpublic student transportation usage and expenditures to the state education commissioner. This directly affects school districts, public school students, and nonpublic schools participating in shared transportation arrangements. The key change streamlines transportation funding mechanisms while maintaining equal access for all students.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

signed · Minnesota · Senate May 15, 2026

SF 856: Office of the Inspector General creation and appropriation

SF 856 creates an independent Office of the Inspector General (OIG) in Minnesota to oversee state agencies and programs. The OIG will conduct audits and investigations into fraud, waste, and abuse of public funds, report findings publicly, and make recommendations for improvement. It requires the OIG to operate separately from executive agencies, with a qualified director appointed by an advisory council, and mandates annual public reports. The bill appropriates funding for the OIG and takes effect January 1, 2026. This directly affects all state agencies, programs, and entities receiving public funds by subjecting them to independent oversight.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 14, 2026

SF 5292: Disbursement modification of workforce development funds

This bill modifies how Minnesota workforce development funds are distributed, primarily affecting the Jobs Skills Partnership Board and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. It requires the Jobs Skills Partnership Board to recommend workforce training needs to the state college system, prioritizing programs run by colleges or existing employers before awarding funds to outside organizations. Additionally, the bill clarifies that special assessment money collected for employment and training must be used specifically for workforce development purposes, including incumbent worker training, rather than for general obligations of the Board of Trustees.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 14, 2026

SF 5291: Various firearms provisions modifications

This bill modifies Minnesota laws regarding firearms, including banning ghost guns, reinforcing bans on semiautilitary-style weapons and binary triggers, and updating rules for storing guns and reporting discharges. It also expands the state's extreme risk protection order system to allow for anonymous threat reporting in schools and adjusts reimbursement rates for mental health providers. The legislation includes funding for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to handle ownership certifications and allocates money for a public awareness campaign about extreme risk protection orders.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 14, 2026

SF 5256: Correctional facilities provided partnerships for dental services authorization provision, commissioner of corrections to improvement of correctional facilities' dental services requirement and appropriation

This bill directs the commissioner of corrections to explore partnerships with outside groups, such as dental schools and mobile clinics, to enhance dental care in Minnesota's correctional facilities. The commissioner must evaluate these options and submit a report by January 15, 2027, which should include recommendations on specific partnerships, funding, and any additional laws needed to improve services. The legislation also mandates that the state increase access to preventative, restorative, and emergency dental treatments for inmates. Additionally, the bill authorizes the appropriation of funds from the general fiscal year 2027 budget to support these improvements and the required evaluation process.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · Minnesota · Senate May 14, 2026

SF 5294: Law enforcement holds of certain persons subject to federal immigration detainers authorization

This bill authorizes Minnesota law enforcement agencies to hold individuals for up to 48 hours after their arrest if the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has issued an immigration detainer. It applies only to people who are not U.S. citizens or do not have lawful immigration status, and it protects officers from liability if they act in good faith while following these procedures. Under the law, a court's order to release a defendant is paused during this holding period to allow time for a secure transfer to federal authorities, but the person remains under the court's jurisdiction and can still post bail. If federal officials do not take custody within the 48-hour window, the individual must be released immediately provided all other bail conditions are met.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✗ Immigration