Sen. Nathan Wesenberg

Maddy summaryThis Minnesota bill prohibits employers from requesting, requiring, or coercing employees to have microchips implanted in their bodies for any reason. It applies to all employers in the state, including government entities, and defines a microchip as a subcutaneous device containing a unique identification number or personal information that can be scanned externally, while excluding medical implants used for health diagnosis or treatment. Employees who believe they have been forced into such implantation can file a civil lawsuit seeking injunctive relief, actual and punitive damages, and attorney fees. The legislation clarifies that temporary adhesive devices like bracelets do not count as microchips under this law.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes removing the official state recognition of Cesar Chavez Day from Minnesota law. It directly affects the state's observance calendar by repealing the existing statute that designates March 31 as a day to honor Cesar Chavez and celebrate the Latino community. The legislation would eliminate the legal requirement to observe this day and remove the accompanying text that describes Chavez's contributions to labor rights and community organizing. If passed, the state would no longer officially recognize this date as a designated observance day.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Minnesota Department of Education to update social studies standards by 2030-2031 to include specific information about the dangers and perils of communism and socialism. The amendment requires that these updates include estimated lives lost under these political systems and negative outcomes associated with them. The change applies to public schools in Minnesota and becomes effective on July 1, 2026. The bill does not mandate immediate curriculum changes but sets a timeline for future standards revision.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a state requirement that fences around farmed deer and elk must prevent physical contact with free-roaming deer and elk, while maintaining the mandate that fences prevent animal escape. It also eliminates the authority of state officials to revoke animal facility registrations or order the removal and destruction of animals based on repeated escape incidents or uncorrected fence deficiencies. Under the revised law, facilities must still maintain fences at least 96 inches tall made of high tensile material, repair fence deficiencies within 14 days, and pay reinspection fees for violations, but the most severe penalties of registration revocation and animal destruction are no longer available. The changes directly affect Minnesota farmers and ranchers who raise deer and elk by altering enforcement options for the Board of Animal Health.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows Minnesota counties and municipalities to delay compliance with certain state mandates until the state provides the necessary funding to cover the costs. It defines these mandates as those that affect daily operations, change resource allocation, or alter spending priorities for local governments. The law applies only to state mandates that take effect after June 30, 2026, ensuring local governments are not required to implement unfunded requirements from that date forward.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax subtraction for Minnesota residents who receive medals or prize money from the United States Olympic Committee for competing in the Olympic or Paralympic Games. The provision allows athletes to exclude the value of these awards from their state taxable income, starting for tax years beginning after December 31, 2025. By amending Minnesota Statutes 290.0132, the legislation adds a specific category of income that can be subtracted when calculating state income tax liability. The bill does not affect other types of income or tax calculations beyond this specific Olympic-related provision.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines misuse of earned sick and safe time in Minnesota and outlines specific situations where employers may request documentation from employees. It states that misuse occurs when employees use this leave for purposes not covered by the law, removing certain employee protections in such cases. The bill also allows employers to ask for reasonable documentation when there is a pattern of suspected misuse, such as repeatedly taking leave before or after scheduled days off, using small increments of time at shift boundaries, or taking leave on days when other paid leave was previously denied. Employers must follow existing rules when requesting documentation and cannot be considered retaliatory for doing so.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits the duration of orderly annexation agreements in Minnesota to a maximum of ten years and clarifies that nonparties cannot annex property covered by such agreements. It also narrows the specific conditions under which municipalities can annex land through ordinances, removing previous provisions that allowed annexation based on land being completely surrounded by municipal limits and eliminating a clause that required 60 percent of an area's perimeter to be bordered by the municipality. The law applies to agreements entered into on or after August 1, 2027, and requires that municipalities must follow the procedures outlined in an orderly annexation agreement if one exists for the property in question.

Maddy summarySF 3843, titled the "Minnesota Civil Remedies Act," establishes direct civil liability for government employees who violate individuals' rights under color of law - whether on or off duty. The bill prohibits common legal defenses like qualified immunity and sovereign immunity, allowing victims to seek compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees for civil wrongs committed by government employees. It directly affects injured individuals (who gain new legal recourse) and government employees (who lose prior immunity protections), while preserving immunity for judges, prosecutors, and legislators acting in their official capacities. The law applies to government actions occurring on or after its effective date and does not replace existing federal claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Transactional Gold and Silver Act in Minnesota, which would recognize gold and silver bullion as legal tender for private transactions and state obligations if the state agrees to accept it. The legislation requires the commissioner of commerce to authorize a bullion depository that stores physical gold and silver, operates an electronic payment system backed by actual metal reserves, and allows account holders to buy, sell, save, or spend these metals. While gold and silver would be recognized as legal tender, the bill explicitly states that individuals and businesses are not required to accept them as payment. The commissioner must also create rules for depository operations and submit a report on the implementation of the system.