Sen. Nathan Wesenberg

Maddy summaryMinnesota's SF 3812 prohibits classroom instruction about gender identity for students in kindergarten through grade 8 in public schools. It requires schools to obtain parental written permission before administering student well-being questionnaires or health screenings to K-8 students and mandates parental notification if a student's health or well-being services change. The bill also establishes procedures for parents to address concerns with school officials within specific timeframes and requires schools to support parental involvement in decisions about student health. The provisions take effect for the 2026-2027 school year.

Maddy summarySF 3817 creates two tax benefits for public safety officers in Minnesota. It exempts their primary home (classified as "class 1a" property) from property taxes if they live and work as a public safety officer (like police or firefighters) in the same city where the home is located, effective for 2027 assessments. It also allows a subtraction from taxable income for public safety officers who reside in the city where they work, effective for tax years after 2025. The bill directly affects officers employed by statutory or home rule charter cities, requiring cities to verify their status for both provisions.

Maddy summaryMinnesota Senate File 3811 prohibits public school classroom instruction about gender identity for students in kindergarten through grade 8, effective for the 2026-2027 school year. It requires schools to notify parents about changes to a student's health or well-being services, obtain parental permission for health screenings in early grades, and adopt procedures ensuring parental involvement in health-related decisions. The bill also establishes a grant program to fund firearms safety, archery, hunting, and angling instruction in school physical education courses, with appropriated funding. These provisions apply to all public schools in Minnesota and aim to align classroom content and parental notification practices with specific legislative requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public referendums (voting) before certain capital improvement projects can proceed. It directly affects cities and economic development authorities when projects are financed through revenue bonds issued by those authorities. Specifically, cities must hold a public vote before entering lease-purchase agreements for qualifying capital improvements (like buildings or infrastructure) if the project is funded by bonds from an economic development authority. The requirement applies when the project meets specific capital improvement criteria under state law. This change modifies existing statutes to mandate local voter approval for these types of projects.

Maddy summarySF 3775 prohibits abortion coverage in MinnesotaCare, medical assistance programs, and the State Employees Group Insurance Program. It eliminates abortion and abortion-related services as a mandatory benefit for all health plans except large group plans. The bill repeals existing provisions that previously required coverage of abortion services in medical assistance programs and created reimbursement mechanisms for health plans covering abortions. These changes directly affect state health programs for low-income residents, most individual and small-group health insurance plans, and state employee health coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the use of state funds from the arts and cultural heritage fund for activities related to occult practices, divination, necromancy, soothsaying, Satanism, or demonology. It directly affects state-funded arts and cultural programs by restricting how these specific funds can be spent. The bill amends Minnesota law to add this explicit prohibition as a new provision in the fund's usage rules, effective upon enactment. The bill is currently in early legislative stages with no voting record yet.

Maddy summarySF 3816, the Minor Party Ballot Access Act, modifies Minnesota's rules for minor political parties to appear on election ballots. It establishes specific requirements for parties to maintain minor party status, including having a candidate receive at least 1% of statewide votes (or 10% in legislative districts) in the previous election, or collecting verified signatures equal to 1% of voters. Parties must also file annual certifications with the secretary of state confirming compliance with organizational requirements. This bill directly affects minor political parties seeking ballot access for statewide or district-level offices, changing how they qualify and retain their status without altering major party rules.

Maddy summarySF 3810 establishes a ten-year property tax exemption for Minnesota homeowners who have continuously lived in their primary residence (classified as class 1a or 1b) for at least ten years prior to application. To qualify, applicants must own and occupy the property as a homestead for ten years, have no unpaid property taxes or special assessments, and submit specific documentation to their county assessor. The exemption ends if the property is sold, transferred, or no longer used as a primary residence, requiring owners to notify the assessor within 30 days of such changes. This exemption applies starting with the 2027 property assessment year and directly affects long-term homeowners of qualifying primary residences.

Maddy summarySF 3773 appropriates $500,000 from the environment and natural resources trust fund to replace the Sullivan Lake Dam in Morrison County. The funds are designated for use by the commissioner of natural resources during fiscal year 2027. This bill directly provides funding for a specific infrastructure project without changing laws or regulations. It affects Morrison County residents and the dam's structural safety, as the replacement aims to maintain the lake's ecosystem and flood control.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $25,000 from Minnesota's arts and cultural heritage fund to the University of Minnesota Board of Regents for a statue commemorating Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated in Utah on September 10, 2025. The statue will be placed on the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus. As a procedural appropriation bill, it directly affects the University of Minnesota's campus design and the state's arts funding allocation.