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.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill allows Minnesota housing and redevelopment agencies to invest their funds in specific types of long-term equity investments, expanding their investment options beyond traditional state board investments. The legislation permits these agencies to invest in index mutual funds tied to broad U.S. equity markets and in shares of companies registered with the SEC that focus on investment-grade fixed income securities and hold at least 80 percent of their assets in federally insured or guaranteed securities. To use this authority, local governing bodies must adopt a resolution or investment policy acknowledging the risk of loss, understanding the specific funds being invested, and certifying that all designated funds meet state board requirements. The changes apply to housing and redevelopment authorities in counties or cities that meet existing qualification criteria and take effect immediately upon enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill repeals previous sales tax exemptions for preferred seating and amenities at athletic facilities, meaning these items will now be subject to sales tax when purchased with event tickets. It also provides funding for safe harbor shelter and housing grants to support homeless assistance programs. The legislation defines various retail sales for tax purposes, including bundled transactions and promotional items, while appropriating money for the housing grants.
Maddy summaryHF 3402 bans the possession, manufacture, import, and transfer of large-capacity ammunition magazines in Minnesota. It defines these as feeding devices holding more than ten rounds (with exceptions for permanently modified devices, .22 caliber tubes, and lever-action tubular magazines). The law takes effect July 1, 2026, requiring current owners to surrender, modify, permanently alter, or remove their magazines by July 1, 2027. Violations carry felony penalties of up to five years in prison or $25,000 in fines. Law enforcement, military personnel, and licensed dealers are exempt under specific conditions.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies Minnesota's window tinting laws to explicitly include police vehicles regularly used for law enforcement activities as an exception to standard tinting restrictions. The change adds police vehicles to a list of vehicle types that may have tinted windows without meeting the usual light transmittance requirements, alongside existing exceptions for pickup trucks, vans, funeral hearses, and limousines. The legislation amends a specific section of the state vehicle code to clarify that these law enforcement vehicles fall under the same tinting exemptions as other specialized vehicles. This update ensures police vehicles are formally recognized in the statute alongside other vehicle categories that are permitted to have darker window tinting.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the state of Minnesota to issue up to $95 million in bonds to fund road and utility infrastructure improvements at the Sears site in St. Paul. The funds will support construction of sanitary sewer and clean water systems, public utilities, streets, sidewalks, lighting, and streetscape improvements needed to prepare the area for future development. The legislation also defines the Sears site boundaries and establishes the legal framework for managing bond proceeds, including provisions for environmental remediation and demolition of existing structures. This measure is designed to provide necessary infrastructure support for the redevelopment of the former Sears property.
Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $200,000 from the state's general fund in fiscal year 2027 to provide a grant to Helping Paws, Inc. for breeding, training, and placing service dogs for individuals with physical disabilities, veterans and first responders with service-related PTSD, and professionals working in courthouse, educational, and mental health settings. The funding is designated as a one-time honorarium in memory of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman. The commissioner of health may also accept private donations to supplement the state appropriation, with all such funds deposited in a dedicated account that expires on July 1, 2028.
Maddy summaryHF 3455 renames Minnesota's State Office Building at 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in St. Paul as the "Melissa Hortman State Office Building." The bill requires the revisor of statutes to update all official references to the building in Minnesota Statutes and Rules. This is a ceremonial renaming with no policy changes or direct impact on residents or government operations.
Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $5 million from the state's general fund in fiscal year 2027 to provide supplemental grants to existing youth intervention programs in Minnesota. The funding is intended to help these programs address immediate or emerging needs related to trauma experienced by the youth they serve. Each grant can be up to $50,000, and recipients must submit a work plan describing their specific intervention needs. The commissioner may use up to 10% of the total appropriation for administrative costs, and this is a one-time funding allocation.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits public utilities in Minnesota from charging existing natural gas customers for the costs of building new infrastructure to serve customers who currently do not have access to natural gas service. The law prevents utilities from recovering these extension expenses through rate increases or special fees paid by current customers, instead requiring utilities to find other funding sources for such projects. The measure repeals an existing statute that previously allowed utilities to petition the state commission for approval to recover up to 33 percent of extension costs from all customers. This change directly affects natural gas utility companies and their existing residential, commercial, and industrial customers who would no longer bear the financial burden of expanding service to new areas. The policy takes effect immediately upon final enactment and applies to any construction projects that begin on or after that date.