This bill prohibits the sale and use of paraquat dichloride, a pesticide, in Minnesota. Starting January 1, 2027, no one can sell or distribute this product, and by January 1, 2028, its use is also banned. The commissioner of agriculture must collect and dispose of any remaining stock of this pesticide and submit a report on its historical use and current supply chain status by January 1, 2028. The law directly affects pesticide sellers, distributors, and agricultural users who currently handle or apply this chemical.
This bill modifies Minnesota's nonprofit sales tax exemption to allow certain qualifying organizations to purchase prepared food without paying sales tax, provided they distribute it as part of their charitable, religious, or educational mission. Currently, prepared food purchases by nonprofits are taxable under the exemption rules, but this change specifically exempts food bought by groups already covered under the nonprofit sales tax exemption (such as food banks, shelters, or educational programs). The exemption applies only when the food is distributed during the organization's core mission activities, not for general use. It will take effect for purchases after June 30, 2026.
HF 3685 creates a new high school diploma option for Minnesota veterans who did not complete high school before joining the military. It allows the state education commissioner to award a standard diploma based on military service experience to veterans who: (1) served in the Korean Conflict, Vietnam War, or left school before graduation to join active duty; (2) are Minnesota residents or former residents with an honorable discharge; and (3) apply through a joint process with the Education and Veterans Affairs departments. The bill directly affects veterans who left school early for military service but have not earned a high school diploma. It establishes concrete eligibility criteria and an application pathway without altering existing diploma requirements for other students.
SF 4067 adds a specific provision requiring the Minnesota State Patrol to provide security and protection to the chief justice of the Supreme Court, explicitly authorizing patrol members to act as peace officers for this purpose. It also adjusts base funding levels for Minnesota's judicial branches starting in fiscal year 2028, increasing the Supreme Court's base to $51,636,000, the Court of Appeals to $15,871,000, and the District Courts to $402,918,000. These funding changes are technical adjustments to existing base amounts, not new programs. The bill directly affects the judicial branch's budget and the State Patrol's duties regarding chief justice security.
HF 1268 modifies rules for common interest communities (like condominiums and homeowners associations) in Minnesota, directly affecting property management companies, community governing bodies, and unit owners. Key provisions include prohibiting property managers from having financial ties to contractors they hire without written disclosure, banning compensation based on fines collected, and requiring written notice for contract renewals. The bill also establishes a "meet and confer" process for disputes and changes notice requirements for community meetings. It prohibits governing bodies from requiring or incentivizing the creation of homeowners associations. These changes aim to increase transparency and fairness in community governance.
HF 76 limits how much Minnesota utility customers can pay for executive compensation. It prohibits utility regulators from approving rate increases that cover the top 10 executives' pay at public utilities with 300,000+ Minnesota retail customers if that pay exceeds the governor's annual salary. The bill defines "compensation" broadly to include salary, bonuses, and other pay, but excludes standard benefits and expense reimbursements. Utilities may still pay executives from non-ratepayer sources (like investor funds), but regulators must ensure this doesn't unfairly burden customers in other states.
This bill amends Minnesota law to explicitly include gift cards as "retail merchandise" under the definition of organized retail theft. It affects retailers (who sell gift cards), law enforcement (who will prosecute these cases), and individuals involved in theft rings targeting gift cards. The key change redefines "retail merchandise" to cover all gift cards (both physical and digital), meaning theft of gift cards will now be treated the same as theft of physical goods under organized retail theft statutes. This update ensures gift card fraud can be prosecuted under existing penalties for organized retail theft starting August 1, 2025.
This bill authorizes the issuance of up to $3.5 million in state bonds to fund a new regional operations and storage facility for the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District in Maple Grove. The funds will be used to design, build, and equip the facility to support mosquito control operations across the district's service area. The legislation directs the Commissioner of Management and Budget to sell the bonds and provides the money through a grant to the Metropolitan Council for distribution to the district. It becomes effective immediately upon final enactment.
This bill proposes moving Minnesota's state primary election from August to March and updates the rules for how political parties nominate candidates for legislative and congressional offices. It establishes new requirements for campaign finance reporting, mandating that committees file specific reports at set intervals before primary and general elections, with different schedules depending on the type of office being contested. The legislation also expands reporting obligations for local elections and certain non-general election years to include entities that spend more than $200 on influencing nominations, independent expenditures, or ballot measures. These changes are designed to modernize the election process and increase transparency in campaign financing, taking effect on January 1, 2028.
SF 5249 proposes a constitutional amendment to Minnesota that would allow the lieutenant governor to cast a vote in the House of Representatives when the members are equally divided. If the amendment is approved by voters at the 2028 general election, the lieutenant governor's vote would count as if it were cast by an elected member, though they would not be considered a member for other purposes. This change would introduce a tie-breaking mechanism directly into the legislative process for the House of Representatives. The proposal requires a public vote to become part of the state constitution.
This legislation authorizes Hennepin County to impose a new local sales tax of up to one percent on purchases made after September 30, 2026. The revenue generated must be used to fund youth and amateur sports programs, extend library operating hours, and support a designated local teaching hospital with a level 1 trauma center. The county may issue bonds without a public election to finance these projects and is required to report annually to state legislative committees on how the funds are utilized. This measure directly affects residents and businesses within Hennepin County through the additional tax and the allocation of collected funds.
This bill modifies Hennepin County's local sales tax authority to allow the county to use its financial position for investment calculations and authorizes grants for ballpark improvements. It also establishes a funding mechanism to provide up to $24 million annually to a designated private, nonprofit Level I trauma hospital for uncompensated care, with specific rules on how that care is defined and calculated. Additionally, the bill permits the county to use remaining funds from this tax for upgrades to county-owned health facilities and related public infrastructure. The legislation directly affects Hennepin County government, the local ballpark authority, and a specific private hospital that meets certain trauma and service criteria.
