Rep. Sydney Jordan

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota bill creates a $100 million relief program to help small businesses that experienced significant revenue declines between July 2024 and February 2026, which the bill attributes to federal enforcement activity. The program provides grants to operators of indoor retail or food market spaces with at least 25 small tenant businesses, requiring that most funds be used to offer rent forgiveness to existing tenants. To qualify, businesses must be Minnesota-based, have fewer than 50 employees, operate from a physical location, and show at least a 20 percent drop in revenue or sales during the specified period. Grant applications will be processed through a lottery system, with funds usable for payroll, rent, utilities, inventory, and other operational expenses, and the state must report on the program's outcomes by December 2026.

Maddy summaryHF 3119 establishes minimum pay standards for Minnesota teachers and certain unlicensed school staff starting July 1, 2026. It sets teacher compensation thresholds at $60,000-$100,000 annually (based on education and experience) and a $25 hourly wage floor for unlicensed staff who regularly interact with students. The bill requires annual inflation adjustments using the Consumer Price Index, beginning in 2030, and creates state aid programs to help school districts cover these costs. School districts, charter schools, and other public education entities directly affected must meet these standards or receive state funding to do so.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a one-time $10 million fund to reimburse Minnesota cities for costs related to federal immigration enforcement activities occurring between December 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026. The money will be distributed to cities based on a pro-ratio of their verified expenses for public safety, emergency management, public works, and legal services during that period. Cities must submit detailed cost reports to the state auditor for review and certification before receiving their share of the aid. If a city receives federal reimbursement for the same expenses, it must return the lesser of the federal amount or the state aid received to the state treasury.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates regulations for electric cooperatives and municipal utilities in Minnesota to clarify how they handle billing for small solar and other net metered facilities. It allows these utilities to charge a specific fee to recover fixed costs for small systems while prohibiting them from using other methods to collect those same costs. The legislation also permits electric cooperatives to aggregate multiple customer meters for billing purposes and requires cooperative board directors to use electronic voting or vote by mail. Additionally, the bill improves transparency by ensuring members have better access to cooperative documents and meetings.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Minnesota Business Recovery Loan Program to help businesses that have suffered financial losses due to increased immigration enforcement activities in the state. It appropriates $100 million in fiscal year 2026, with $18 million designated for zero-interest loans to businesses in greater Minnesota and $82 million for zero-interest loans to businesses in the seven-county metropolitan area through nonprofit lenders. To qualify, businesses must be located in Minnesota, owned by state residents, demonstrate a revenue loss of more than 30 percent between enactment and December 1, 2025, and show that losses resulted from staffing shortages, reduced customer access, or other immigration enforcement-related factors. The program provides loans ranging from $25,000 to $200,000 depending on business size and location, which must be used exclusively for business operations in Minnesota and cannot be used to repay prior debt or for real estate speculation.

Maddy summaryHF 3181 requires Minnesota counties to collect and submit detailed data on waiver case management staff (including wages, hours, turnover, and vacancies) to the state commissioner annually for public analysis. It increases case management service rates by 27.5% for programs supporting seniors aged 65+ who need community-based care instead of nursing facility placement. The bill mandates annual rate reviews with county input and requires the commissioner to publish statewide and county-level labor market reports. These changes affect seniors receiving essential community supports under Minnesota Statutes 256B.0922 and the providers (county agencies and contracted private firms) delivering these services. The provisions take effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHF 3620 prohibits Minnesota state agencies and the commissioner from purchasing single-use plastic food service items (like plates, cups, cutlery, and clamshell containers) and plastic bottles under 21 fluid ounces. The law applies to all state procurement contracts and bid specifications issued after its effective date, which is the day after enactment. Exceptions allow purchases when prohibited items are unavailable, during emergencies, or when necessary for health, safety, or accessibility needs. This bill directly affects state purchasing decisions and aims to reduce plastic waste in government operations.

Maddy summaryHF 3409 prohibits Minnesota public schools from denying students access to free K-12 education based on the student's or their parent's immigration status or citizenship. It requires schools to stop collecting unnecessary immigration information, avoid threatening to share such details with law enforcement, and ensure no student or parent is excluded from school activities due to immigration status. The bill also creates a legal remedy, allowing students or parents who face such denial to file a civil lawsuit for redress.

Maddy summaryHF 3713 requires textile, carpet, and mattress manufacturers to set up and pay for systems that collect these items when they are thrown away. This bill directly affects producers of these products, not consumers or retailers. Key provisions include creating a dedicated fund to manage collection systems, imposing penalties for failing to comply, and mandating annual reports on the program's progress. The bill also appropriates state funds to support the new system.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Minnesota commissioner of natural resources to transfer all state-owned land within one mile of the Upper Red Lake shoreline and all land within the Red Lake State Forest boundaries to the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians without payment. The legislation mandates that the commissioner identify any legal or funding obstacles to these transfers and submit a detailed report by January 15, 2026, to relevant legislative committees with recommendations for resolving those barriers. Additionally, the bill appropriates $20 million in fiscal year 2026 to fund the land conveyance process, with funds available until June 30, 2035, and may be used to acquire additional land needed to facilitate the transfers. The law takes effect immediately upon final enactment.