Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura

Maddy summaryHF 3776 prohibits publicly funded preschool and kindergarten programs in Minnesota from allowing children to use individual screens (like tablets or smartphones) during school hours. The bill specifically bans screen use without teacher engagement or peer interaction, applying to all children except those with an active individualized education plan (IEP), 504 plan, or individualized family service plan. It does not restrict screen use for educational purposes under teacher supervision. The law would take effect on July 1, 2026, for all covered programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Metropolitan Airports Commission to increase transparency regarding flights at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport that transport detained immigrants. Specifically, it mandates that the airport operator notify the commission whenever U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrives or departs with passengers being held in restraints. The legislation also requires the commission to install a live-streaming camera to record these flights and to submit monthly reports detailing the number of detained individuals, including minors, on each trip. These measures are designed to provide the public and state officials with real-time data and regular updates on immigration-related air traffic at the airport.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals existing exemptions for the sales and use tax on aircraft and changes where the resulting tax revenue is deposited. Specifically, it removes protections for transactions involving previously registered aircraft, sales to licensed dealers, and purchases of flight equipment by airline companies. Instead of funding the state airports fund, the revenue from these taxable aircraft sales will now be credited to the commissioner of education for specific uses outlined in state law. The changes also allow the commissioner of transportation to collect this tax on behalf of the revenue commissioner and take effect for transactions occurring after June 30, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a previous requirement that assumed a $250 million reduction in special education funding for the 2027-2028 biennium and subsequent years. Under the new provisions, the state commissioner of management and budget will no longer be required to forecast this specific funding cut when preparing revenue and expenditure forecasts. The legislation also removes the mandate that the legislature must identify enacted provisions from the Blue Ribbon Commission on Special Education to offset the assumed funding reduction. If savings from those provisions fall short of $250 million, the commissioner of education would no longer be required to reduce the special education cross subsidy aid factor to make up the difference. The changes take effect the day following final enactment of the bill.

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 restricts public utilities in Minnesota from including specific expenses in the rates charged to customers. It prohibits utilities from recovering costs related to executive travel and entertainment, lobbying, political donations, and compensation exceeding $300,000 for the ten highest-paid officers. Additionally, the law bars the recovery of funds spent on advertising, charitable giving, and penalties, while requiring utilities to submit detailed annual reports on these prohibited expenditures. If a utility charges ratepayers for these restricted costs, the bill mandates refunds with interest and imposes a penalty equal to 200 percent of the improper amount.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new state general levy specifically for residential homestead property in Minnesota, which will be collected starting with taxes payable in 2027. The legislation creates a formula where the amount levied on homeowners is calculated to ensure cities receive a specific level of state aid, replacing the previous method that excluded homesteads from this specific tax pool. Additionally, the bill modifies how state aid is distributed to cities by guaranteeing that each city receives an amount equal to its unmet need or its prior year's certified aid, whichever is greater. These changes aim to adjust the funding structure for local governments while introducing a dedicated tax source for residential properties.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies funding for the "Homework Starts with Home" program, which assists homeless families, those at risk of homelessness, and highly mobile families. It directs $1 million in fiscal year 2027 and mandates $2 million annually in 2028 and 2029 to the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority for a specific partnership aimed at housing stability and homelessness prevention for families with school-aged children in Minneapolis. Additionally, the bill sets the base funding level for the program at $2 million starting in fiscal year 2028.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new emissions limits and measurement requirements for municipal solid waste incinerators in Minnesota, directly affecting facilities that burn mixed household waste. It requires these facilities to meet updated federal standards for air pollutants and mandates the installation of continuous monitoring systems to track emissions of specific contaminants like dioxin, mercury, and lead. The legislation also defines technical terms related to incinerator operations and sets clear criteria for what monitoring equipment must be used, without specifying exact emission numbers in the text provided.