Sen. Nathan Wesenberg

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the giant beaver (*Castoroides ohioensis*) as Minnesota's official state fossil. It requires the commissioner of natural resources to approve a photograph of the fossil, which must be preserved and displayed in the Office of the Secretary of State. The bill makes a ceremonial change to Minnesota Statutes, chapter 1, with no financial or regulatory impact on residents or businesses.

Maddy summarySF 2523 modifies Minnesota's Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) rules to improve retirement benefits for educators. It allows teachers to retire without penalty at age 60 with 30 years of service, adjusts early retirement reductions, and removes delays for postretirement adjustments. The bill increases employer contributions to the TRA fund (from 13.3% to 17.3% for most members by 2026) and raises school district pension adjustment rates (from 1.05% to 2.05% by 2026). These changes directly affect public school teachers in the TRA system, school districts funding retirement, and the state budget through new appropriations.

Maddy summarySF 3372 increases criminal penalties for swatting - making false emergency calls to trigger police responses - by amending Minnesota Statutes §609.78. It raises penalties based on harm caused: up to 10 years in prison or $20,000 fines for causing death/great bodily harm (subd. 2a), and up to 10 years or $20,000 fines for targeting officials’ homes (subd. 2c), including elected officials, judges, prosecutors, correctional staff, or peace officers. The bill applies to offenses committed on or after August 1, 2025, and directly affects individuals who make false emergency calls, particularly those targeting public officials. These changes aim to deter swatting by strengthening consequences for causing harm or threatening officials.

Maddy summarySF 3375 classifies the location data of farms raising farmed cervidae (such as deer or elk) as private information under Minnesota law. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes to explicitly state that the premises location where these animals are kept must be treated as nonpublic data, directly affecting cervidae farmers. This change prevents public access to such location information, though the Board of Animal Health may disclose it if necessary for law enforcement, public health, or animal safety. The bill does not alter existing data privacy protections for other agricultural premises.

Maddy summarySF 3301 gradually phases out Minnesota's individual income tax and corporate franchise tax over four years. Starting in 2026, taxpayers pay 80% of their calculated tax bill, reducing to 60% in 2027, 40% in 2028, and 20% in 2029. This directly affects individuals and businesses subject to Minnesota's income and corporate taxes. The bill also repeals specific tax statutes and requires the revisor of statutes to identify additional changes needed for full repeal by 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill (SF 3321) amends Minnesota child custody laws to ensure access to gender-affirming care isn't used to deny jurisdiction in custody cases. It removes restrictions that previously allowed courts to decline jurisdiction when a child sought gender-affirming care, explicitly stating that a child's presence in Minnesota for such care meets the "significant connection" requirement under custody jurisdiction rules (§ 518D.201). It also adds that inability to obtain gender-affirming care qualifies as an emergency for temporary custody orders (§ 518D.204). The bill repeals prior restrictions (§§ 62Q.585, 260.925, 543.23) that limited these protections. This directly affects minors seeking gender-affirming care and their families navigating custody disputes.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines key terms like "woman," "man," "girl," "boy," and "sex" based solely on biological sex at birth, stating there are only two sexes. It requires state agencies, schools, and public entities to collect and use data on biological sex (not gender identity) for compliance with antidiscrimination laws and public health data. The bill also mandates that single-sex environments (like bathrooms, shelters, or sports teams) must be based on biological sex, not gender identity, and prohibits using "gender" as a synonym for "sex" in state law. It applies to all state agencies, schools, and policies that classify people by sex.

Maddy summarySF 3315 requires voters who register on election day to cast provisional ballots instead of regular ballots. The bill amends Minnesota Statutes (specifically sections 201.061 and 204C.135) to mandate that individuals registering in person at polling places on election day must use provisional ballots, which are verified for eligibility after the election. This directly affects voters who register on election day, such as those who missed mail-in or online registration deadlines. The bill repeals outdated sections of law to align with this requirement, but does not change the provisional ballot verification process itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds "cigar bar" to the list of businesses cities can license to sell alcohol on-site under Minnesota law. It directly affects cigar bars (businesses primarily selling cigars or tobacco products) by allowing them to obtain liquor licenses, which they previously could not. The key provision amends existing statute to explicitly include cigar bars under the same licensing rules as tobacco shops, enabling cities to issue on-sale liquor licenses to these establishments. The change applies statewide and takes effect upon final enactment.

Maddy summarySF 3250 prohibits certain taxes during government shutdown periods in Minnesota. It amends Minnesota Statutes to prevent wage tax deductions (under section 290.92) and consumption taxes (under sections 295, 296A, etc.) from being imposed on wages paid or transactions occurring during a "shutdown period" or a short grace period after it ends. A "shutdown period" is defined as the time when appropriations for executive, legislative, or judicial branches haven't been enacted for the upcoming biennium, starting July 1 of an odd-numbered year. The bill directly affects employers who withhold wage taxes and businesses/individuals subject to consumption taxes during these defined shutdown windows.